IEA's Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce Meets with Pakistan's Deputy Minister of Interior

Date: 18 April 2025

Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan honorable Mr. Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi, along with his accompanying delegation, met with Muhammad Khurram Agha, Deputy Minister of Interior of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The meeting aimed at addressing issues related to Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan.

Honorable Mr. Alhaj Azizi, initially expressed appreciation for the continued kindness of the government and gentlefolks of Pakistan toward Afghan refugees, while also indicating serious concerns over the recent forced deportations of Afghan refugees, which have raised humanitarian and legal concerns.

The Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, stated: "We believe that mutual respect and cooperation on refugee matters will strengthen bilateral trust, ensure regional stability, and preserve brotherhood and Islamic spirit."

Further in the meeting, the IEA's delegation proposed several suggestions to address refugee issues, including the establishing a joint tripartite committee between Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to organize and monitor the voluntary return process of refugees, stopping forced deportations, permission for refugees to carry their personal belongings, protection of investments of Afghans within Pakistan, which requires a special mechanism; legal and property issues, which also require a timeline and coordination with the Government of Afghanistan and UNHCR, and the continuation of regular bilateral talks to find humanitarian, gradual, and consultative solutions regarding the refugees.

The delegation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, headed by the Deputy Minister of Interior of the said country, pledged to treat Afghan refugees in a respectful and humane way, stating that a timeframe has been given to migration card holders and that a law has been enacted in Pakistan, based on which no foreign citizens are allowed to reside in Pakistan, unless with legal documentation. He also added that refugees are not going to be jailed, but are instead held in Hajj camps till their return to Afghanistan.

The meeting also included discussions regarding the issuance of visas for drivers and their associates in both countries.