Russia has strongly condemned any potential return of U.S. military forces to Afghanistan, specifically the possibility of reopening Bagram Air Base, calling such moves “categorically unacceptable.” The statement was made by Zamir Kabulov, the Russian President’s special representative for Afghanistan and senior adviser to the Russian Foreign Ministry, in an interview with RIA Novosti.

Kabulov emphasized that Moscow opposes the establishment of any U.S. or NATO military infrastructure on Afghan soil or in neighboring regions, under any pretext. He also expressed hope that the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, known as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, would share Russia’s stance on the issue.

Kabulov’s remarks came in response to growing concerns regarding the U.S. military’s presence in the Middle East, particularly amid rising tensions with Iran. There have been reports suggesting that the U.S. might seek access to Bagram Air Base again as part of a strategic pivot in the region.

Recalling the previous administration under former U.S. President Donald Trump, Kabulov noted that the U.S. had persistently sought to regain control of Bagram Air Base following its chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. “There is nothing new in these demands,” Kabulov stated, referring to the ongoing push by the U.S. to re-establish a military foothold in the region.

Russia’s firm stance reflects its broader geopolitical concerns regarding the influence of the U.S. and NATO near its borders, particularly in Central Asia and Afghanistan.

More than 2.13 million Afghan nationals have been repatriated from Pakistan to Afghanistan as part of an ongoing campaign targeting undocumented foreign residents, according to Pakistani authorities cited by local media.

Officials say over 150,000 individuals were returned from Punjab alone, where enforcement efforts are being led by the Punjab Home Department’s Foreign National Security Cell. The campaign includes inspections of thousands of residential areas and hundreds of markets, resulting in numerous detentions and legal cases against Afghan nationals found without valid documentation.

The repatriation process comes amid heightened tensions along key border crossings between the two countries. Hundreds of migrants have recently been sent back via the Chaman crossing, particularly during disruptions at other transit points.

The Torkham crossing—a major gateway for cross-border movement—has faced repeated closures. Although it briefly reopened, local officials in Nangarhar Province report that it was shut again after only a few hours. Authorities in Pakistan have not provided a clear explanation for the latest closure.

According to Sediqullah Quraishi, head of Nangarhar’s Information Department, the crossing was opened temporarily on Thursday before being closed again without official clarification.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Afghan migrants remain in temporary holding centers across Punjab, where they are undergoing registration and processing ahead of their return to Afghanistan. The large-scale repatriation effort continues to raise humanitarian and logistical concerns, particularly as border access remains unpredictable.

Human Rights Watch has condemned a recent Pakistani airstrike on a rehabilitation facility in Kabul, calling it “unlawful” and warning it could amount to a war crime.

The strike, which reportedly took place on March 16, targeted the Omid Drug Rehabilitation Center, located within the former Camp Phoenix complex in eastern Kabul. According to international agencies, at least 143 people were killed and more than 250 others injured, most of them patients undergoing treatment.

Patricia Gossman, senior associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said available evidence suggests the strike hit a well-known civilian medical facility.

“The available evidence indicates that the Pakistani airstrike against a well-known Kabul medical facility killing dozens of patients was unlawful,” she said, adding that authorities must determine why the site was targeted and who should be held accountable.

An employee of the center told the organization that three buildings were struck, including a dining hall, a residential building housing hundreds of patients, and a guard post. At the time of the attack, more than 1,000 patients were reportedly at the facility, many gathered to break their fast during Ramadan.

Human Rights Watch said satellite imagery and visual evidence show extensive destruction across the compound, with multiple structures either destroyed or severely damaged. The organization added that it found no indication the facility was being used for military purposes.

Under international humanitarian law, medical facilities are afforded special protection. The group stressed that attacks failing to distinguish between civilian and military targets, or those causing disproportionate civilian harm, may constitute serious violations of the laws of war.

Human Rights Watch has called on Pakistan to carry out a prompt, impartial investigation and ensure accountability if violations are confirmed.