Key Points
- Deportation of up to 1 million Afghan refugees began last month
- Terrorist safe havens still exist in Afghanistan
- India urged to fully comply with the Indus Waters Treaty
- India accused of fomenting terrorism in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson has urged Germany to expedite the relocation of Afghan refugees currently residing in the country, stating that those awaiting resettlement should be taken in “as soon as possible.”
“Those Afghans waiting to travel to Germany should be deported promptly,” FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said at a weekly news briefing on Friday. “Germany should take in these refugees as soon as possible. Pakistani law will apply to those Afghans living here. We will decide what to do with refugees in Pakistan.”
Last month, Pakistan began deporting up to one million Afghan refugees following a government deadline. The move came after the Interior Ministry’s July 31 announcement declaring that Proof of Registration (PoR) cardholders—the last group of Afghans legally residing in Pakistan without visas were to be considered unlawful residents after their cards expired on June 30.
Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees for more than four decades, sheltering those displaced by wars and crises ranging from the Soviet invasion in the 1980s to the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
Shafqat Ali Khan stressed that undocumented individuals must leave the country, saying, “This is what Pakistan is doing, and it is no different from what other states in Europe or elsewhere are doing. It is our territory, and we decide who stays in.”
Khan also referred to an August statement from the German foreign ministry on X, which said that Berlin takes the issue “very seriously.”
He added that there is a large group of Afghans in Pakistan, which the German side had committed to taking to Germany. A number of deadlines have passed.
Important discussion between @AussenMinDe and his 🇵🇰counterpart @MIshaqDar50 on strengthening the bilateral cooperation between Germany and Pakistan. The situation of Afghans in Pakistan was also on the agenda. We take this matter very seriously. https://t.co/DZI7RTfcyh
— GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) August 28, 2025
Safe havens in Afghanistan
The spokesperson reiterated concerns over terrorist sanctuaries across the border. “Terrorist safe havens still exist in Afghanistan,” Khan said, adding that Pakistan had carried out an operation against militants in border areas on August 28, involving drone strikes.
“Afghanistan needs to stop allowing its territory to be used for acts of terrorism. Pakistan knows how to defend its territory and its people,” he said.
🔴LIVE: Spokesperson’s Weekly Press Briefing 05-09-2025 at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad https://t.co/k4Fd23xQEp
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 5, 2025
India withholds flood data
Khan also accused India of failing to provide complete flood-related information. “India informed Pakistan about floods once through diplomatic channels, but this was not the established procedure,” he said.
“While India shared some details, it did not provide complete information. We reiterate that India should fully comply with all provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty.”
India fomenting terrorism
The FO spokesperson again charged India with supporting terrorism inside Pakistan.“India’s involvement in planning terrorism in Pakistan is well documented. We have shared sufficient information with our friends in the international community,” Khan said.
He added that India’s activities extended beyond the region. “When this matter was not given sufficient attention, India became emboldened to undertake a global assassination campaign, attempting to kill people in the US, Canada, and elsewhere. This remains India’s approach to bilateral relations and poses a serious threat to regional peace and security.”
Gaza and Yemen
On Palestine, Khan said Pakistan strongly condemned the Israeli strike on Al Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, which killed at least 21 people, including four journalists and a rescue worker. He described the attack as “an unconscionable and heinous assault on a medical facility” and “a grave violation of international humanitarian law and press freedom.”
He also condemned Israeli actions in Yemen. “This again demonstrates Israel’s utter disregard for international law and humanitarian norms. Its indiscriminate and rogue actions have become a source of instability and chaos. Pakistan unequivocally condemns the recent Israeli attack in Yemen,” he said.
Khan reaffirmed Pakistan’s recognition of the Republic of Yemen, with its government based in Aden under President Rashid al-Alimi and Prime Minister Salem Saleh.
Relations with Russia
Responding to a question on bilateral ties, Khan said Pakistan enjoys a “positive trajectory” in relations with Russia. “Our relations are becoming multifaceted and deep-rooted, and we are satisfied with the momentum.”
