Taliban criticizes U.S. deportation plan

The Taliban authorities have expressed "deep concern" over the American proposal to deport Afghans to Pakistan. According to a statement by Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is worried about reports that the United States may deport Afghan refugees who have not obtained legal residency status in the U.S. to Pakistan, with the intention of their eventual return to Afghanistan.

New York Times reports deportation numbers

Information relayed by the New York Times on Friday indicated that more than 150 Afghans could be deported to Afghanistan via Pakistan. Among those potentially affected are individuals and their families who had assisted American forces prior to their withdrawal in 2021. The #AfghanEvac organization, which works to protect and reintegrate Afghan allies of the United States, has condemned this plan.

Deportations would involve Pakistan

Although the United States cannot organize direct deportations to Afghanistan, officials told the newspaper that Pakistan would oversee the repatriation of these individuals to Afghanistan. The Taliban has called for a "responsible and measured approach" and urged the United States to adopt such an approach in making decisions regarding the fate of Afghan citizens, emphasizing the need for clear mutual understanding, necessary coordination, and consideration of the rights and legitimate demands of the affected individuals.

Taliban amnesty and UN reports

The Taliban government has declared an amnesty for those who served in the institutions of the former Afghan Republic, but the UN has documented several arrests in recent years. The two neighboring countries have been in open conflict since October 2025, when fighting had caused dozens of deaths and led to the near-complete closure of their land border.

Border conflict and mutual accusations

After various mediations, the clashes had decreased without completely stopping, and then turned into an open war at the end of February. Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban authorities of harboring and supporting the jihadist movement Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), created in 2005 and responsible for deadly attacks on Pakistani soil, which these authorities deny.