Islamabad — Pakistan has categorically rejected recent remarks by the Afghan Taliban Ambassador in Islamabad, calling his assertions on the treatment of Afghan refugees “misleading and irresponsible.”
The Taliban’s envoy, Sardar Ahmad Shakib, had warned that the closure of key border crossings had worsened the plight of Afghan refugees stranded inside Pakistan. He urged Islamabad to suspend deportations and reopen crossings to ease mounting humanitarian pressures.
According to a video statement released by the Afghan Embassy on X, “nearly 10,000 Afghans have been detained and sent to holding centers,” while thousands more remain stuck near the border with limited access to food, shelter, and medical care. The embassy also claimed that several deaths, including those of three children and one woman, had occurred due to exposure and lack of aid.
In response, the Government of Pakistan dismissed the allegations, emphasizing that the ongoing repatriation process is being conducted in accordance with national laws and international humanitarian norms. It said the process ensures the safety, dignity, and assistance of returnees through coordination with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and partner organizations.
“Pakistan has hosted over four million Afghan nationals for decades in a spirit of brotherhood, despite immense economic and security challenges,” said one government source.
Officials maintained that Pakistan’s decision to regulate undocumented migration stems from genuine security concerns and cross-border terrorism threats emanating from Afghan territory, issues that remain unaddressed by Kabul.
They added that temporary border closures were a security necessity following incidents originating from the Afghan side. “The embassy’s inflammatory claims of mistreatment are baseless and contrary to verified facts on the ground,” a senior official said.
Islamabad urged Afghan authorities to prevent anti-Pakistan elements from exploiting refugee movements and to cooperate toward a peaceful and orderly repatriation framework in the interest of both nations.
