US team arrives to take up Afghan refugees issue

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: An American delegation led by US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Elizabeth Horst has reached Islamabad on a four-day visit. It is the third visit by the American officials in the current month of December.

According to sources, Pakistan will raise issues of proscribed organizations operating from Afghanistan, their safe havens and terrorist lists with US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Horst during her visit which will conclude on December 12. The US official will meet caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani during her visit.

During her meetings with the Pakistani officials, Ms Horst will hold talks on improving Pak-US ties and promoting mutual cooperation. She will exchange views on situation in Afghanistan, Afghan refugees and regional security. Pakistan has evicted thousands of Afghan nationals staying illegally in the country. As per reports, 25,000 Afghan nationals waiting for the completion of their resettlement process in America are also residing in Pakistan.

These Afghan nationals used to work for the American military or government, international organizations and aid agencies, as well as media and human rights groups.

They escaped the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 to Pakistan and are waiting to be processed to relocate to the US. The sources said that US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West left for Doha late last night. West met with Foreign Minister Jilani and Pakistan’s Special Representative on Afghanistan Asif Durrani. The sources said that West also met with officials of UNHCR, IOM and other international partners during his visit.

Earlier, US Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees and Migration Juliet Wallace Noyes visited Pakistan this month. Commenting on the US officials’ visit to Pakistan, Foreign Office’s Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said on December 4 that the upcoming visit of the US officials was part of the routine. “Pakistan and the US have been partners for a long time.