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In a press conference on Wednesday, Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar of Pakistan attributed the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Afghan migrants to Afghanistan's failure in preventing Pakistani militants from operating within its borders. Kakar stated that Afghans were deeply involved in suicide attacks and clashes with Pakistani forces, revealing a surge in security incidents since the Taliban's return to power in Kabul.
Since the October ultimatum issued to 1.7 million Afghans living illegally in Pakistan, more than 250,000 individuals have crossed the border from Pakistan to Afghanistan. While Pakistan claims most departures were voluntary, Kabul insists on the forcible repatriation of the majority after the November 1 deadline.
"The majority of these illegal immigrants in Pakistan are of Afghan origin," Kakar emphasized, noting that a significant portion of those engaged in criminal and terrorist activities were among these migrants.
Kakar reported a disturbing 60 percent increase in terror incidents in Pakistan since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, resulting in 2,267 deaths. Although he primarily attributed these incidents to Pakistan's homegrown Taliban movement, Kakar asserted that they were utilizing bases in Afghanistan, with Afghan nationals actively involved.
"Over these years, 15 Afghan nationals were involved in suicide attacks, and 64 Afghans were killed in clashes with Pakistan law enforcement during operations against militancy," Kakar disclosed. Despite Pakistan's repeated complaints to Afghanistan's rulers, he lamented the lack of action, citing evidence indicating support for terrorists.
Afghanistan's Taliban leaders maintain that they do not permit their soil to be used for staging attacks on other countries, insisting that Pakistan's security problems are a domestic affair. The accusations and expulsions further strain the already delicate relations between the two neighboring nations.
