Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has called for the gradual repatriation of Afghan refugees, not only from Pakistan but from other countries as well.
His remarks come as Pakistan’s government reiterated its March 31 deadline for Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders and undocumented foreigners to leave the country under its ongoing repatriation drive. The ACC, issued by Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), grants temporary legal status to Afghan nationals. According to the UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM), over 800,000 Afghans hold these cards in Pakistan.
Speaking at an iftar gathering in Kabul attended by diplomats, including Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani, Muttaqi acknowledged that millions of Afghans had migrated to various countries over the past four decades. He expressed hope that the hospitality shown to refugees would continue, emphasizing that their return should be conducted in a phased and dignified manner.
“We have no security issues in Afghanistan, but some challenges make it difficult to accommodate refugees all at once,” he stated, calling for international organizations to assist in the process.
Muttaqi also touched upon the reopening of the Torkham border crossing, which had been closed for three weeks. He emphasized the need for Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their issues through diplomatic engagement rather than actions that could harm citizens of both nations.
Additionally, Muttaqi met with US officials in Kabul to discuss bilateral ties and the release of detainees. His talks with Adam Boehler, who handles hostage affairs for Washington, and former US envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, focused on consular services for Afghans in the United States.
Expressing the need for political and economic relations with the US, Muttaqi urged both sides to move past the legacy of two decades of war and engage in constructive dialogue.
