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Pakistan Defense Minister calls for return of Afghan refugees, cites security concerns
Pakistan currently hosts an estimated 3.5 million Afghans, of which around 1.7 million are undocumented, according to government figures.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif this week said that all Afghan refugees must return to their home country, arguing that their prolonged stay has created significant challenges for Pakistan’s security and economy.
Speaking to a private television channel, Asif said Pakistan is “facing a lot of problems” due to the large refugee presence, alleging that terrorist attacks are being launched from Afghan soil into Pakistan. He added that Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan authorities to take stronger action against groups operating across the border.
“Pakistan has made requests on many occasions for strict measures to control terrorists who are sabotaging peace in our country,” he said.
The minister’s remarks come at a time when Pakistan has intensified pressure on undocumented Afghan migrants, many of whom fled decades of conflict, while others have arrived more recently. Human rights organizations have expressed concern over mass deportations, warning of humanitarian consequences as Afghanistan struggles with economic collapse and food insecurity.
Pakistan currently hosts an estimated 3.5 million Afghans, of which around 1.7 million are undocumented, according to government figures.
Islamabad has long argued that the burden of hosting refugees should be shared by the international community, while security officials continue to link the presence of Afghan nationals to rising militancy inside Pakistan.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has however repeatedly rejected these allegations and says it will not allow any group or individual to use Afghan to plot or carry out attacks on a neighboring country.
The Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan has announced scholarship opportunities for Afghan students under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program for the 2027 academic year.
According to the embassy, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan is offering scholarships for graduate-level study at Japanese universities under the research student category, including both regular and non-regular students.
Interested and eligible applicants can download the application guidelines and forms from the official Study in Japan website and are advised to carefully review all requirements before applying.
Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria and have prepared all required documents must submit their applications by 25 May 2026. The embassy said late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.
The first screening process will include a written examination in Kabul on 18 June 2026, followed by interviews scheduled for July 2026 (date to be confirmed).
The Embassy of Japan noted that the Aga Khan Foundation Afghanistan will assist in collecting applications and facilitating written examinations, but will not be involved in the selection process.
It further emphasized that the selection will be conducted independently by the embassy and the Japanese government, based on academic merit, quality of application documents, and performance in written and interview examinations, without consideration of religious, linguistic, or ethnic background.
The scholarship program is fully funded and free of charge. The embassy warned applicants to remain cautious against scams, stressing that no financial contributions are required at any stage of the application process.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, has launched the distribution of more than 1,000 residential land plots for returning migrants in Logar province.
During a visit to Logar, Hanafi inaugurated a new township and said the initiative aims to support Afghan returnees by providing them with housing opportunities and improving settlement conditions.
He called for speeding up the process of distributing residential plots designated for migrants, stressing the importance of timely implementation.
“We inaugurated this township today, which includes more than 1,000 plots. These plots will be distributed to migrants. In addition, other townships will also be constructed soon,” he said.
Hanafi also noted that over the past three years, more than five million Afghan migrants have returned from neighboring countries, adding that efforts are underway to provide them with essential services and support their reintegration.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, has urged the Afghan authorities to take concrete action against militant threats that Islamabad says originate from Afghan soil.
Speaking at an event at the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul marking the first anniversary of Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos against India, Nizamani reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining “brotherly ties” with Afghanistan.
The ambassador also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in reducing tensions between Iran and the United States, saying Islamabad’s initiatives reflected its commitment to regional and global peace.
During the ceremony, Nizamani reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to defend itself against any aggression.
“Pakistan’s desire for peace must never be mistaken for weakness,” the ambassador said, calling for heightened vigilance against regional threats.
Pakistani officials have consistently claimed that militants use Afghan soil to attack Pakistan. The Islamic Emirate, however, has denied this claim and said that Afghanistan is not responsible for Pakistan’s security failures.
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