UN Special Envoy Visits Paktia, Taliban Highlight Calls for Aid & Condemn Deportations

The Taliban governor’s office in Paktia Province has announced the visit of Roza Otunbayeva, Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), to the south-eastern region.

According to a statement released on Tuesday, Otunbayeva met with Taliban Deputy Governor Inamullah Salahuddin and condemned Pakistan’s forced deportation of Afghan migrants. The statement quoted Otunbayeva as saying: “We condemn Pakistan’s actions, which forcibly expel Afghan migrants in violation of all principles.”

The Taliban also claimed that Otunbayeva pledged UNAMA’s support in mobilising international assistance for small businesses, education, agriculture, and essential services for returning migrants.

During the meeting, Salahuddin reiterated the Taliban’s interest in engaging with the international community in areas such as trade and development. He urged UNAMA to help convey to the world that Afghanistan is “on a path to stability and progress.”

As of now, Otunbayeva has not publicly commented on the visit.