Imran Khan calls for extension of Afghan refugee return deadline

Imran Khan has called for extending the Afghan refugee return deadline, emphasizing the need for continued support and negotiations.

Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, while being imprisoned, has called for the passage of a resolution in support of Afghan refugees and the facilitation of negotiations with the Taliban administration.

Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, during a meeting with senior members of his party at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, urged the extension of the deadline for Afghan refugees to return from Pakistan.

Sheikh Waqas Akram, the spokesperson for PTI, announced that Khan had proposed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly pass a resolution urging the federal government to facilitate negotiations between the provincial government and the Taliban of Afghanistan.

Khan emphasized that the surge of terrorism has had devastating effects on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and direct engagement with Afghan authorities could help reduce the intensity of this crisis. In a message shared by Waqas Akram on social media platform X, Khan said, “The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly should demand that the federal government extend the deadline for expelling Afghan refugees and grant permission for direct talks with the Taliban.”

Previously, PTI had voiced objections regarding the expulsion of Afghan refugees. Ali Amin Gandapur, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a senior member of PTI, had also described the policy as unsustainable and harmful.

Since the beginning of April 2025, the Pakistani government has initiated a new wave of expulsions of Afghan refugees without legal documentation. Reports suggest that in the past two weeks alone, over 60,000 refugees have either returned to Afghanistan or been forcibly expelled. The government’s strict policy towards Afghan refugees has sparked widespread domestic and international reactions.

Imran Khan’s call for extending the refugee return deadline and facilitating negotiations with the Taliban reflects growing concerns over Pakistan’s refugee policy and its implications for regional security. The debate surrounding this issue is expected to continue, with significant political and humanitarian consequences.

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