Pakistan, US discuss Afghan deportation strategy

Islamabad, The Gulf Observer: Julieta Valls Noyes from Biden Administration dealing with refugee and migration issues began her four-day trip in Pakistan on Tuesday with a series of meetings at the foreign office.

Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees, and Migration, Julieta Valls Noyes is the first of three Biden administration officials that are visiting Pakistan within the next few days.

On the first day of her trip, Noyes held a meeting with foreign secretary Cyrus Qazi and Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Asif Durrani.

The foreign office issued no press release but Noyes on her X handle (formerly twitter) shared an image of her meeting with Ambassador Durrani with a terse statement stating: “Good to visit Pakistan Foreign Ministry and see special representative for Afghanistan Asif Durrani again today (Tuesday) for discussion on Afghan refugees, protection and resettlement.”

She will continue to meet other senior officials during her stay in Pakistan in what seems an effort on part of Washington to find a solution to those stranded Afghan individuals who are eligible for migration to the US.

Pakistan has launched a crackdown against Afghans living in the country illegally following the expiry of the deadline on October 31.

Since the decision, the US has been in touch with Pakistan to ensure that Afghans who are eligible for immigration to the US are spared.

There are about 25,000 Afghans, who according to Washington, are in Pakistan and waiting for their immigration to the US.