Pakistan has every right to expect Afghanistan to take responsibility for its own citizens. Over the past week alone, more than 8,900 Afghans have been deported from Pakistan as part of an intensified campaign to repatriate illegal migrants, according to the UN Refugee Agency. This is not a surprise. Pakistan has been signaling its intent for months: Afghan nationals holding the now-expired Afghan Citizen Cards were told to leave by March 31 or face deportation.
The Afghan government’s response has been to accuse Pakistan of using refugees as political pawns and to cry foul over the “violence” of the deportations. Kabul’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation called the repatriations “unacceptable and intolerable.” But here’s the truth: the Taliban regime wants the benefits of sovereignty without the responsibilities.
Afghanistan is no longer a war zone. It has a functioning—albeit hardline—government. Security is more stable than it has been in years, and border crossings are open. If Kabul claims to be a legitimate authority, it must act like one. That means accepting the return of its citizens, not treating their repatriation as a political insult.
More than 845,000 Afghans have already returned to Afghanistan over the past 18 months. Many left under pressure, yes, but many others chose to go, recognizing that it is time to rebuild and reintegrate. The Taliban government insists that returning Afghans should be allowed to bring their property, money, and belongings. That’s a fair demand—and one Pakistan should honor—but it cannot be used as an excuse to delay repatriation.
The Taliban has also accused Pakistan of allowing the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to operate unchecked. This is a distraction. If the Taliban truly wants to establish regional credibility, it must start by showing it can manage its population and its responsibilities under international law.
Human rights organizations have raised valid concerns about the treatment of migrants. Pakistan should ensure humane conditions and legal pathways for repatriation. But those calls must also extend to Afghanistan, which has an obligation to prepare for and welcome back its citizens with dignity and structure.
It’s time for Kabul to stop playing games. If Afghanistan is safe—and the Taliban insists it is—then it’s time to prove it by accepting those who have been deported. Sovereignty means more than holding power—it means taking responsibility.