Islamabad – Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid on Saturday stated that the Afghan leadership has provided land and settlement support for families who migrated to Afghanistan, emphasizing that “no one should be deprived of their rights.” He added that the commissions and committees previously formed to manage displaced people remain active and that Afghanistan is prepared to receive and manage further migration. Mujahid further noted that the tribal migrants currently residing in Afghanistan had settled there before the Islamic Emirate came to power.

Pakistani officials, however, have strongly rejected these assertions, arguing that, contrary to Taliban statements, no ordinary families migrated from Pakistan to Afghanistan in recent years. They emphasize that the individuals crossing the border were primarily militants affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). Responding to similar remarks during the Istanbul talks, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif described the Afghan narrative as “absurd” in a post on X, questioning how so-called “refugees” could return armed with heavy weapons. He added that these militants do not travel openly by buses, trucks, or cars on main roads, but instead cross the border via rugged mountain paths, highlighting the Taliban regime’s insincerity and ill intent.

Analysts describe Mujahid’s statements as a deliberate attempt to mislead the international community by portraying armed militants as ordinary migrants. Pakistani officials stress that the country’s demand is straightforward and legitimate: apprehend the terrorists and their leadership to prevent further cross-border attacks. Observers point out that Afghanistan’s failure to take responsibility for the militant networks operating from its territory continues to fuel tensions along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border.

The dispute underscores a broader concern over regional security. Pakistani authorities insist that instead of propagating misleading narratives, the Taliban must act responsibly and hand over the militants to Pakistan. Ensuring that Afghan soil is not used to launch attacks against Pakistan remains Islamabad’s central demand, as the country seeks to curb the threat of terrorism and safeguard regional stability.

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