Afghanistan’s Taliban Thursday called on neighbors Pakistan and Iran to be patient with Afghan refugees and follow an organized process for their return, considering Afghanistan’s economic challenges.
Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the Taliban acting minister of refugees and repatriation affairs, separately met with Ubaid Ur Rehman Nizamani, Pakistan’s charge d’affaires in Afghanistan, and Iran’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Alireza Bekdali, in Kabul.
In a post on social media platform X, the Afghan ministry said Kabir expressed hope that the “host countries will exercise patience and forbearance toward refugees.”
“Islamic Emirate encourages Afghan refugees to return to the country,” said the statement. “But due to lack of conditions at home, host countries should consider organized return process instead of forced deportation, and act according to a gradual mechanism.”
Kabir called on Iran and Pakistan to slow the pace of returns until bilateral mechanisms are put in place.
“Time should be given to hold bilateral and trilateral meetings in this regard,” the statement said.
Nizamani, Pakistan’s top diplomat in Afghanistan, said refugees are not a political tool, according to the Afghan ministry’s post.
“He said that Pakistan’s future is linked to Afghanistan, therefore, it does not use Afghan refugees as political tools, but wants the problems to be resolved through understanding,” the refugee ministry said on X.
Pakistan and Iran have sent back more than 2.7 million Afghans to their home country since the 20-year U.S.-led war in Afghanistan ended in August 2021.
