ISLAMABAD:The Foreign Office revealed on Thursday that the United States has committed to resettling all Afghans currently in Pakistan by September 2025. However, Washington has not officially communicated any changes regarding the suspension of the Afghan refugee resettlement plan under the new administration.
Around 25,000 Afghans, who previously worked for the US military and its contractors, are currently in Pakistan after fleeing the Taliban takeover following the chaotic withdrawal of US-led forces in August 2021. Pakistan agreed to temporarily host these Afghans at the request of the US, which promised to relocate them. Despite this commitment, thousands of Afghans remain in Islamabad.
Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan addressed queries about the status of these Afghans amidst concerns over US immigration policies. “We have an arrangement with the United States, under which it has committed to resettling Afghans in Pakistan to the US by September 2025,” he stated, marking the first official disclosure of the specific timeline for relocation.
While the Biden administration’s resettlement process was slow, recent executive orders issued by former President Donald Trump have further complicated matters, including one that suspended the Afghan refugee program. This suspension impacted 1,660 Afghans who were ready to board flights to the US, placing the future of 25,000 Afghans awaiting resettlement in jeopardy.
The spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the arrangement, saying, “The arrangements are in place. We have not officially received any updates on this issue. As far as we are concerned, the agreement stands.”
He also noted that other countries had agreed to resettle some of the Afghans but expressed frustration with the slow progress. “We urge these processes to accelerate,” he emphasized, adding that Pakistan remains in contact with other nations willing to host Afghan refugees.
The Trump administration’s stance on Afghan refugees could potentially strain Pakistan-US relations. However, the spokesperson remained optimistic. “We welcome President Trump’s assumption of office. The US and Pakistan share a longstanding relationship spanning decades, covering multiple areas of cooperation. We look forward to maintaining a positive trajectory in our bilateral relations with the new administration,” he remarked. He also confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had written a congratulatory letter to the US President upon his inauguration.
In a separate statement, the spokesperson dismissed claims by the Taliban government that Daesh training camps exist in Pakistan. “These allegations are baseless and part of a malicious propaganda campaign,” he asserted. He highlighted Pakistan’s ongoing struggle against terrorism and expressed concern over the sanctuaries enjoyed by the TTP in Afghanistan. “The TTP’s operations are heavily reliant on support and logistics from their sanctuaries in Afghanistan. We urge Afghan authorities to address this genuine concern to improve bilateral relations,” he concluded.
