US Officials to Visit Pakistan for Talks on Afghan Immigrants and Taliban Relations
Three senior officials from the US State Department are scheduled to visit Islamabad this week amidst the extensive deportation of Afghan immigrants from Pakistan.
Three senior officials from the US State Department are scheduled to visit Islamabad this week amidst the extensive deportation of Afghan immigrants from Pakistan.
These visits aim to address the situation of Afghan immigrants and the dynamics between Pakistan and the Taliban. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, spokesperson for Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, indicated that the discussions are part of continuous dialogues with the US on various issues, including Afghanistan's situation.
The Express Tribune reported that Julieta Valls Noyes, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, is due to arrive in Islamabad on Monday to deliberate on Afghan refugee matters. Tom West, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan, is expected on 7 December, while Elizabeth Horst, the US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Pakistan Affairs, will visit on 9 December. The focus of Tom West's visit will particularly be on Afghanistan's overall situation and the Pakistan-Taliban relationship.
Following the Taliban's refusal to counter the Pakistani Taliban, tensions have risen between Pakistan and the Taliban. The US is reportedly concerned about potential escalations in these tensions, which could destabilise Afghanistan. Additionally, the meetings will address the plight of Afghan immigrants.
The US State Department stated that Noyes will discuss protecting vulnerable immigrants and speeding up the relocation and safe resettlement of Afghan refugees. In the wake of Pakistan's decision to expel over 1.7 million undocumented immigrants, predominantly Afghans, more than 400,000 have already been deported. The US is seeking solutions to prevent the deportation of Afghan refugees who previously worked with the US government in Afghanistan, aiming to resettle them in the US.
