Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani conveyed his concerns to his Afghan counterpart, Amir Khan Muttaqi, during their meeting on Thursday. He highlighted the pressing issues affecting regional peace, particularly in light of the recent increase in terrorist activities, some of which involved Afghan nationals.
The interim government has set a 28-day ultimatum, until November 1, for all undocumented immigrants, including Afghan refugees, to voluntarily leave the country or face compulsory deportation.
In an official statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jilani emphasized the importance of addressing the challenges to regional peace and stability through collaborative efforts and collective strategies.
FM @JalilJilani met Afghan Acting FM Amir Khan Muttaqi in Tibet, China. FM reaffirmed
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 5, 2023s commitment to further strengthen bilateral ties with Afg. Underscored that challenges confronting regional peace & stability be addressed in collaborative spirit thru collective strategies. pic.twitter.com/ACWnOXHKC2
In Tibet, China, where Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani was visiting to attend the Third Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation on October 4 and 5, a significant meeting took place with his Afghan counterpart, Amir Khan Muttaqi. During this meeting, Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Afghanistan was reaffirmed, as stated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This commitment comes at a time when Pakistan faces challenges related to unlawful and terror activities. The interim government has recently made a significant decision to address these issues by giving illegal migrants, including Afghan refugees, a 28-day deadline until November 1 to voluntarily leave the country, or they will face compulsory deportation.
Interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti, on October 3, announced this decision and noted that 14 out of the 24 suicide bombings in Pakistan this year were carried out by Afghan nationals. According to Bugti, approximately 1.73 million Afghan nationals in Pakistan lack legal documentation to stay, and there are a total of 4.4 million Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan. It’s worth mentioning that Pakistan has been hosting a large number of Afghan refugees since the Soviet invasion of Kabul in 1979.
The rise in terrorism in Pakistan has been attributed in part to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group that has found safe havens in Afghanistan and revoked a ceasefire with the government late last year. This has led to increased security concerns and recent attacks, such as two suicide bombings targeting religious gatherings in Pakistan, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 57 lives. One of the suicide bombers was identified as an Afghan national.
Despite these challenges, Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have been making efforts to encourage the return of those who had left the country. However, the nation has been grappling with a substantial reduction in aid following the collapse of the US-backed government.
In response to Pakistan’s plan to evict hundreds of thousands of Afghan migrants, the Taliban authorities have deemed it “unacceptable,” adding to the complex dynamics surrounding the situation.
