-
US urges Pakistan to keep its borders with Afghanistan open for Afghan refugees

According to the We For News, media reported on Thursday a US State Department official has said that Washington wants Pakistan to keep its borders with Afghanistan open for Afghan refugees.
The We For News said, Dawn news reported citing the official as saying while briefing journalists on Wednesday on the new US refugee admission programme for Afghan nationals that “in a place like Pakistan, it’ll be important that their borders remain open.”
The official added, “obviously, if people go north or if they go via Iran to Turkey, (they) have an opportunity both to enter the country as well as to register with either the government or with UNHCR.”
The new programme, announced on Monday, applies to those who worked on US-funded projects and to Afghans employed by a US-based media or non-governmental organisation (NGO).
Read more: Afghan President blames US troops withdrawal for violence in his country
Besides Pakistan, the State Department has also asked Turkey to allow Afghans to stay in the country for up to 14 months before they are re-settled in the US.
During his visit to Washington earlier this week, Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf said that arrangements should be made to keep displaced Afghans inside their country instead of pushing them into his country.
“Why make them ‘dar-ba-dar’ (homeless)? Make arrangements for them inside their country. Pakistan does not have the capacity to take more refugees.”
The Turkish government has also criticised the US plan to use third countries to re-settle Afghans, saying the move would cause a “great migration crisis” in the region.

“We do not accept the irresponsible decision taken by the US without consulting our country,” the Turkish Ministry Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued in Ankara.
“If the US wants to take these people to its country, it is possible to transfer them directly to their country by planes.”
There are two countries that can play a pivotal role in this resettlement plan, Iran and Pakistan, said the Dawn news report.
Since the US does not have diplomatic relations with Iran, US policy makers look at Pakistan to help them implement this programme, it added.
Pakistan, however, appears reluctant to do so.
Since 1979, Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghans and more than three million are permanently settled in the country.
Pakistani officials argue that their economy is not strong enough to absorb more refugees.
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!