A delegation of United States officials, headed by Assistant Secretary Julieta Valls Noyes, arrived in Islamabad on Monday. The primary focus of the visit is to engage with Pakistani officials on the repatriation of illegal refugees.
Additionally, discussions will encompass the situation of approximately 25,000 Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan and their potential rehabilitation in Western nations.
Two more delegations are expected to visit Pakistan later in the month. The United States Special Representative for Afghanistan, Thomas West, is anticipated to lead an American delegation.
The discussions with top-level Pakistani officials are likely to address not only the Afghan refugee issue but also concerns related to terrorism in Pakistan, the use of Afghan territory for terrorist activities, and strategies to combat outlawed groups such as the TTP and other terrorist organizations.
Pakistan-US Consultations Intensify On Afghanistan And Broader Bilateral Issues
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office of Pakistan announced on Sunday that the country is engaged in consultations with the United States on various issues, with a particular focus on the situation in Afghanistan.
The spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, mentioned that the two nations are actively conducting visits to expedite the consultation process, with significant US officials scheduled to visit Pakistan in the coming days.
One key concern raised by Islamabad is its continuous attribution of rising terrorist attacks and the use of Afghan territory for such activities. Pakistan has specifically urged the Taliban-led government to extradite Hafiz Gul Bahadur after a member of his group attacked Bannu, resulting in the death of two civilians and injuries to several others, including three soldiers, in a suicide bombing on November 26.
In response to security challenges, Pakistan has been deporting illegal Afghan citizens, citing a correlation between their presence and the increased incidence of terror attacks in the country.
