Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. Special Envoy to Afghanistan, expressed concern on social media about the potential misuse of the expulsion of Afghan refugees from Pakistan. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on April 16, Khalilzad said that “knowledgeable people” had raised concerns that Pakistan might be using the forced deportation of Afghan refugees as a cover to send ISIS fighters into Afghanistan.
Khalilzad did not provide further details or identify who these “knowledgeable people” were but shared his alignment with their concerns. The issue has raised alarms, especially given the ongoing deportation efforts by Pakistan, which began in October 2023. Authorities significantly increased the deportations in April 2024, with over 45,000 Afghans returned in just the first two weeks of the month.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has consistently fought against ISIS, and there have been accusations in the past that Pakistan may have supported the militant group. In January 2024, Afghanistan’s deputy foreign minister claimed that ISIS had training centers operating within Pakistan, fueling further concerns.
Khalilzad’s remarks come amid heightened tensions over the mass deportation of Afghan refugees, with Pakistan citing security and legal concerns, while critics, including Khalilzad, fear that such actions could inadvertently allow militants to infiltrate Afghanistan under the guise of refugee expulsion.
