Pakistan has welcomed a US offer to facilitate dialogue between Islamabad and Kabul, expressing readiness to support diplomatic efforts by Washington and other friendly countries to ease tensions between the two neighbouring nations.

According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, meaningful negotiations with Afghanistan would require clear commitments and practical, verifiable action by the Islamic Emirate authorities against militant groups allegedly operating from Afghan territory.

The Pakistani official specifically referred to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other armed groups, describing action against them as a key condition for progress in bilateral talks.

However, the Islamic Emirate has rejected Pakistan’s allegations, maintaining that no armed groups are present in Afghanistan and that Afghan territory is not being used against any country, particularly neighbouring states.

The developments follow remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who expressed Washington’s willingness to play a constructive role in reducing tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Pakistan says it remains committed to constructive engagement with Kabul but insists that dialogue must address Islamabad’s security concerns.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate maintains that Pakistan’s security challenges are internal matters and that responsibility for resolving them should not be placed on Afghanistan.

Dutch authorities have confirmed that 36 of the 38 men rescued from a stranded rubber boat off the coast of Cadzand in Zeeland are Afghan nationals, while two Sudanese men have been arrested on suspicion of human smuggling.

The migrants were rescued on Saturday after their rubber boat, which had no functioning engine, was found drifting off the Dutch coast.

Following the rescue, the vessel was towed to Cadzand, where all 38 men were brought ashore. The two Sudanese nationals were subsequently arrested as part of an investigation into suspected human smuggling.

The 36 Afghan nationals are currently being held in temporary custody at the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee facility in Hoogerheide, in the Brabant-Oost region.

Authorities are working to establish their identities and determine whether they intend to seek asylum in the Netherlands.

The Marechaussee is leading the operation, with support from the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution (KNRM) and the Dutch Coast Guard.

The vessel was reportedly a Zodiac-type inflatable boat, commonly used in migrant crossings. However, authorities have not disclosed where the boat originated or its intended destination.

The administration of US President Donald Trump is planning to deport Afghan migrants detained in the United States to Afghanistan through Pakistan, The Associated Press reported on Sunday citing court documents.

Court documents show that the US plans to begin deporting Afghans from Louisiana to Pakistan as early as Monday, with further transportation to Afghanistan.

Human Rights First said it had confirmed a flight scheduled to carry Afghan migrants from Louisiana to Pakistan on Tuesday. The advocacy group #AfghanEvac also condemned the plan, warning of its consequences for Afghan allies.

The plan has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers.

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said the United States was breaking its promise to Afghans who had supported American forces during the war.

Senator Tim Kaine said: “Our Afghan allies risked everything to help the United States. Now Trump plans to send their relatives back to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Repaying their sacrifice with betrayal is shameful and will make it much harder for America to secure assistance in future conflicts.”

Thousands of Afghans who assisted the US military or are relatives of American service members remain in uncertain circumstances after the Trump administration suspended its predecessor’s Afghan resettlement programme.