On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome met in Islamabad to discuss the protection of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers in Pakistan, along with other bilateral issues, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy.
Pakistan currently hosts a large number of Afghan immigrants, with an estimated 1.7 million undocumented as of October 2023. Last year, the caretaker government announced the repatriation of all undocumented foreigners due to security concerns, a decision believed to target Afghan refugees, though officials later denied this.
U.S. Mission spokesperson Jonathan Lalley stated that Ambassador Blome and Deputy Prime Minister Dar discussed a range of issues, including “protection of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers, economic cooperation, security, counterterrorism, and regional cooperation.” Blome also welcomed the chance to understand Pakistan’s priorities ahead of its term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC).
Pakistan began its first round of deportations in November last year, with 675,190 Afghans returning by August 4. While the government initially planned a second round of repatriation for Afghan Citizenship Card (ACC) holders, it recently extended the stay of 1.45 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan until June 30, 2025.
Enhanced Bilateral Cooperation and UN Engagement
The Foreign Office (FO) statement noted that the meeting between Dar and Blome also covered various aspects of the bilateral relationship and avenues for enhanced cooperation in multiple fields. They also discussed matters related to the upcoming UN General Assembly session.
Pakistan was elected as a non-permanent member of the UNSC last month with a significant majority, committing to address global challenges. The country will replace Japan on January 1, 2025, beginning its record eighth term for two years.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to arrive in New York on September 21 to participate in the UN-sponsored Summit of the Future and the UN General Assembly session, where he will address the General Assembly on September 27. The session’s debate, which runs from September 24 to 28, is expected to focus on the Gaza crisis, and Pakistan has emphasized its role in addressing issues related to Gaza and Kashmir following its UNSC election.
During his visit, PM Shehbaz will also hold bilateral meetings with various world leaders to discuss mutual interests, attend the annual reception hosted by the U.S. President, and engage with members of the Pakistani-American community.
