Afghanistan Warns US Over Migrant Transfer to Pakistan
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan urged Washington to act responsibly as reports say Afghans in US immigration detention could be moved to Pakistan.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Immigration
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The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan voiced concern over a reported US plan to transfer Afghan migrants held in immigration detention to Pakistan. Its Ministry of Foreign Affairs said third countries should not bargain over the fate of another country's citizens.
Why it matters
The reported transfer would move Afghans who lack legal residency documents into Pakistan, a country where they were already held in detention centres. The statement signals that Kabul expects any decisions on its citizens to rest on a clear bilateral understanding.
The statement was issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and reported in connection with a Bloomberg report dated October 27, 2026. The transfer concerns Afghans held in Pakistani immigration detention centres, including family members of Afghans who worked with US forces.
The players
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
The Taliban-led government that controls Afghanistan since its takeover of Kabul in 2021, and which is not recognized by most countries.
Bloomberg
The global financial and business news organization whose reporting first surfaced the US transfer plan.
The details
The Islamic Emirate urged the United States to act responsibly and cautiously and said it remains committed to the dignified, safe and voluntary return of its citizens. The group affected by the reported plan includes family members of Afghans who worked with US forces.
Timeline
October 27, 2026: Bloomberg reported the US plan to transfer Afghans to Pakistan.
November 2, 2026: The Islamic Emirate issued its statement of concern.
Legal Context
Pakistan has repeatedly detained and deported undocumented Afghans in recent years, a pattern the reported US transfer would extend. The Islamic Emirate's statement stresses that any movement of its citizens should follow a clear bilateral agreement rather than third-country arrangements.
For Afghans held in detention or with relatives in the process, the outcome could determine whether they are returned to Afghanistan or moved to Pakistan. The statement makes clear that Kabul expects any such move to depend on a formal bilateral understanding.
The takeaway
Decisions about displaced people often hinge on agreements between governments that the migrants themselves do not control. Watching for a formal US-Pakistan-Afghanistan arrangement would show whether the transfer proceeds.
Further reading
For broader background, see our Immigration coverage.
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