Pakistan razes Afghan camp as talks set in Istanbul

Pakistan has demolished an informal settlement used by Afghan nationals and forced residents to leave as Islamabad and Afghanistan’s Taliban administration prepare for a second round of talks in Istanbul “tomorrow,” local media reported. The clearance operation and the scheduled diplomatic engagement come amid Pakistan’s continuing drive to repatriate undocumented Afghans, a policy that has uprooted hundreds of thousands of people since late 2023.

Camp cleared as residents told to leave

German broadcaster DW reported that authorities demolished a camp sheltering Afghans, compelling families to vacate the area as heavy machinery moved in to clear the site. The report said Afghans were “forced to leave” as the settlement was torn down, highlighting the precarious situation of those who remain in Pakistan without valid documentation.

Officials in Pakistan say the enforcement actions target people without legal status under the government’s Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan, launched in 2023. The initiative identified roughly 1.7 million undocumented Afghans for return, according to public statements at the time, and has involved a combination of voluntary departures and removals coordinated with provincial authorities.

Human toll draws scrutiny

France 24’s Reporters program this week spotlighted the human impact of the policy, describing the “impossible choice” facing Afghan families in Pakistan who fear detention if they stay or uncertainty if they return. The documentary chronicled households that fled Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in 2021 and have since struggled to secure legal status, work, and education for their children in Pakistan.

Rights groups and aid agencies have repeatedly warned that abrupt clearances and deportations risk separating families and disrupting access to services. Pakistani authorities, for their part, maintain that the measures are a law-and-order imperative and stress that those with valid documents, including registered refugees, are not the target of enforcement.

Second round of Pakistan–Taliban talks in Istanbul

Separately, Aaj English TV reported that Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban will hold a second round of talks in Istanbul tomorrow. The channel did not immediately disclose the agenda, but the meeting follows months of strained ties over border management and security concerns, as well as the ongoing return of Afghans from Pakistan.

Islamabad has sought engagement with Kabul on practical arrangements at crossings, coordination around movement, and mechanisms to manage people without legal status. The Istanbul meeting signals continued attempts to keep communication channels open as repatriations proceed and seasonal cross-border movements pick up.

Policy context and next steps

Pakistan’s repatriation campaign accelerated in November 2023, when authorities began enforcing deadlines for undocumented foreigners to leave the country. Since then, hundreds of thousands of Afghans have crossed back via official points such as Torkham and Chaman, while enforcement operations, including camp clearances, have continued in major urban centers and along transit routes.

While the government emphasizes sovereignty and the need to regulate migration, humanitarian organizations have called for clearer procedures, additional notice for evictions, and safeguards for vulnerable groups, including women, unaccompanied minors, and people at risk of persecution.

With the Istanbul talks expected to resume “tomorrow,” attention will focus on whether Islamabad and the Taliban administration can agree on steps to manage returns more predictably, facilitate documentation for eligible Afghans, and reduce the likelihood of abrupt displacements such as the camp demolition reported by DW. For families caught between enforcement in Pakistan and uncertainty in Afghanistan, the outcome of these discussions could shape what options—if any—remain.