Afghan minister raises refugee issues with Pakistani officials in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD (AA) – The acting Afghan industry and commerce minister met Tuesday with Pakistan caretaker foreign minister in Islamabad amid tension between the two neighbors concerning the eviction of Afghan refugees.

Nuruddin Azizi arrived Monday in Islamabad along with a delegation to participate in a meeting with Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

Azizi met Jalil Abbas Jilani and discussed regional trade and connectivity, according to the Pakistan Foreign Ministry.

“He [Jilani] reaffirmed commitment to mutually beneficial ties with Afghanistan. FM said full potential for regional trade & connectivity can be harnessed with collective action against terrorism,” it wrote on X.

The Pakistani ministry did not share additional details from the meeting, however, the Afghan Embassy said Azizi also raised issues related to stranded goods of Afghan traders in the Karachi port and Afghan refugees.

“Bilateral trade, especially the stranded goods of traders in Karachi port, smooth transfer of Afghan refugees’ properties to Afghan and related issues were discussed,” according to the embassy.

Tension between Islamabad and Kabul rose after Pakistan launched a crackdown against undocumented foreigners, mostly Afghan refugees, and sent thousands of refugees back to Kabul during the last month.

Last week, Pakistan caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar accused the interim Afghanistan Taliban administration of providing support to the Tehreek-e-Taliban-e-Pakistan (TTP), which he claimed is using Afghan soil to carry out terrorist activities against Pakistan.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected the claim and said the group does not allow anyone to use Afghanistan against Pakistan .

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is not responsible for maintaining peace in Pakistan, they should solve their internal problems by themselves and not blame Afghanistan for their failures,” Mujahid said in a statement.