Taliban minister expresses concern to Pakistan over Afghan repatriation drive

The Taliban's acting foreign minister on Saturday expressed "concern and sadness" during a rare meeting with Pakistan's foreign minister over the deportation of tens of thousands of Afghans, according to a statement.

Pakistan has expelled more than 80,000 Afghan nationals since the end of March, a senior official said on Friday, as part of a renewed surge in a repatriation drive that began in 2023.

But Saturday's meeting marked a possible thaw in relations for the neighbouring countries, whose forces have also clashed violently in recent months. Islamabad says Islamist militants who have carried out attacks in Pakistan have safe havens in Afghanistan, a charge Kabul denies.

Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar travelled to Kabul for the one-day visit to discuss security and commerce, the first such visit by Pakistan since 2022.

The Taliban administration's acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said in a statement he "expressed deep concern and sadness over the situation of Afghan migrants in Pakistan and their forced deportation."

"He strongly urged Pakistani officials to prevent the violation of the rights of Afghans residing in or arriving in Pakistan," the statement said, adding that they also discussed a boost to bilateral trade and ensuring returning Afghans could take the proceeds of their property in Pakistan with them.

Pakistan's foreign office said in a statement that Dar: "emphasised the paramount importance of addressing all pertinent issues, particularly those related to security and border management, in order to fully realise the potential for regional trade and connectivity."

Tensions between the nations have run high, with Pakistan carrying out airstrikes on Afghan territory last year and a key border crossing between the two countries being closed for almost a month in February amid clashes between forces from both sides.