The Pakistani Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday that it is studying an American proposal to deport Afghan citizens through its territory, after an American federal court this week prevented the deportation of dozens of Afghans to their country.
Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Sajjad Haider Khan said during a regular press conference: “The issue is currently under study, and all its aspects are being carefully considered in consultation with the relevant authorities.”
He added in response to a question about reports of the deportation of dozens of Afghans, “We hope to reach a solution that is agreed upon by both parties.”
On Tuesday, a US federal court halted plans to deport Afghan immigrants, in a move that came after human rights organizations warned that returning them to their country could put their lives in danger.
Last week, American media reported that more than 150 Afghans residing in the United States will be deported to Afghanistan via Pakistan, as part of President Donald Trump's campaign to tighten immigration procedures.
According to the Afghan Evac organization, which helps Afghans who previously cooperated with the United States, the group includes Afghan relatives who cooperated with the American army in their country before the Taliban took control of the capital, Kabul.
Earlier this year, the Pakistani government ordered the arrest of Afghan citizens who do not hold visas, as part of a policy that has been ongoing for years to return them to their country, which has prompted millions of Afghans fleeing the war to return.
On Monday, the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan expressed “deep concern” about American plans to deport Afghans.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been tense since the Taliban returned to power, and the situation worsened after bloody border clashes last October that led to the border between the two countries being almost completely closed.
After returning to power in 2021, the Taliban announced a general amnesty for Afghans who worked with the Western-backed forces and government, and this year it repeated its pledges that its former opponents could return to the country safely. But the United Nations has documented reports of extrajudicial killings, arrests, and abuses.
North Korea announced it had tested a new air defense missile system and carried out strategic cruise missile strike training, state media reported Thursday, in the latest display of Pyongyang's military capabilities.
Wednesday's tests are part of a series of extensive military tests in recent weeks, including cluster munitions, attack drones, precision-guided torpedoes, and a medium-range hypersonic missile.
The South Korean army announced on Wednesday that it had detected the launch of several missiles from the Sondok region in North Korea towards the Sea of Japan.
Pyongyang recently took a tougher stance toward Seoul after a land mine explosion in the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas, and leader Kim Jong Un's sister indicated this week that there was no desire to resume talks with Washington.
North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday that the newly designed air-missile defense system underwent a test-fire with the aim of verifying its technical specifications. The agency noted that “the experiment demonstrated the technical specifications and reliability of the new materials,” without providing details about the materials used.
China confirmed on Wednesday that avoiding the resumption of hostilities in the Middle East is a “top priority” for its diplomatic efforts with countries in the region.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in a press conference that “the highest priority is to avoid the resumption of hostilities in the Middle East, which could bring disaster to the residents of the region.”
In this context, China announced today that it is in contact with the United States and Russia to arrange a possible summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and American Donald Trump on the sidelines of a regional meeting it will host later this month.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in a press conference when asked about the possibility of holding a tripartite meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19, that “China is communicating with relevant parties regarding a meeting between the presidents of China, Russia, and the United States.”
The Kremlin announced on October 21 that “preparations are being made” for a meeting that would be the first of its kind between the Chinese president and his Russian and American counterparts.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned last month that a tripartite summit would pave the way for a redistribution of influence, as happened after World War II.
