The ruling Taliban government in Kabul indicated on Monday its "deep concern" about the possibility that the Trump administration would deport dozens of Afghan migrants to Pakistan, with a view to their subsequent return to Afghanistan. According to the New York Times, some of them provided assistance to American forces before their withdrawal in 2021.
Published on: 02/11/2026 - 08:50 Modified on: 02/11/2026 - 08:55
A project denounced by the organization #AfghanEvac. The Taliban authorities expressed their "deep concern" on Monday, November 2, following the Trump administration's announcement of its plan to expel dozens of Afghan migrants to Pakistan, with a view to their subsequent return to Afghanistan.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan expresses its deep concern over reports that the United States intends to deport to Pakistan some Afghan refugees who have not yet been able to obtain legal residence permits in this country,” said Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement.
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According to information relayed Friday by the New York Times, more than 150 Afghans could be deported to Afghanistan, controlled by the Taliban authorities, via Pakistan.
Among them are people, as well as their families, who provided assistance to American forces before their withdrawal in 2021, according to the American daily.
Wave of expulsions of Afghan refugees
This project is denounced by the organization #AfghanEvac, which works to protect and reintegrate Washington's former Afghan allies during the two decades of war between 2001 and 2021 between the United States and the forces of the former Afghan Republic and the Taliban insurgents.
Although the United States cannot organize direct deportations to Afghanistan, officials told the newspaper that Pakistan would oversee their return to that country.
In recent years, Germany and Turkey have also expelled Afghan nationals directly to Afghanistan, despite concerns expressed by human rights organizations about the risks to returnees.
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Abdul Qahar Balkhi said the Taliban authorities urged "the United States to adopt a responsible and measured approach in this regard, and to take any decisions and measures regarding the fate of Afghan citizens with clear mutual understanding, necessary coordination and taking into account the rights and legitimate demands of those concerned."
“The Afghan side is ready to interact in this regard in a practical manner based on mutual understanding, taking stock of existing realities and taking into account the legitimate concerns of both sides,” he added.
Theoretical amnesty
The Taliban government has declared an amnesty for people who served in the institutions of the former Afghan Republic, but the UN has documented several arrests in recent years.
Afghanistan and Pakistan have been in open conflict since October 2025, when fighting left dozens dead and resulted in the almost total closure of their land border.
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After various mediations, the clashes diminished without completely stopping, then turned into open war at the end of February.
Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban authorities of sheltering and supporting the jihadist movement Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), created in 2005 and responsible for deadly attacks on Pakistani soil, which the latter deny.
With AFP
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