Three US senior officials to head to Pakistan for talks on Afghanistan issues

Amid the expulsion of Afghan migrants from Pakistan, it is planned that three senior officials from the U.S. Department of State will travel to Islamabad this week for discussions regarding the Afghan migrant situation and Pakistan’s relations with the Taliban.

The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Zara Baloch stated that “these meetings are part of ongoing discussions with the United States on a wide range of issues, including the situation in Afghanistan.”

According to Express Tribune, Juliette Walsh, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Refugee Affairs, is scheduled to visit Islamabad on  Monday to engage with relevant authorities on Afghan migrant issues.

Thomas West, the U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan Affairs, will head to Islamabad on December 7th, followed by Elizabeth Horst, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Afghanistan Affairs.

According to sources cited by the newspaper, West’s agenda will focus on the overall situation in Afghanistan, particularly Pakistan’s relations with the Taliban.

Tensions have escalated between Pakistan and the Taliban due to the Taliban’s refusal to act against Pakistani Taliban factions. The U.S. is concerned about any further escalation in tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban, as it could lead to instability in Afghanistan.

During these meetings, the U.S. State Department will address the Afghan migrant crisis, emphasizing the protection and safe relocation of vulnerable Afghan migrants. Pakistan’s expulsion of over 1.7 million undocumented migrants, including 400,000 Afghan migrants, prompts the U.S. to find a solution to prevent the expulsion of Afghan refugees who previously aided the U.S. government in Afghanistan, with plans to relocate them to the United States.

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