Immigration

Taliban government urges U.S. to 'act responsibly' on Afghan deportations as first flights loom

Washington • November 2, 2026 • By Press Pass USA

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The Afghan Taliban government asked the United States on Monday to act responsibly when deporting Afghan immigrants back home, the Afghan foreign ministry said, adding that Kabul is prepared to engage constructively with Washington on the issue.

"The Afghan side is prepared, while understanding the existing realities and taking into consideration the legitimate interests of both sides, to engage constructively and on the basis of mutual understanding in this regard," the foreign ministry said in a statement reported by Reuters on Monday.

The statement is Kabul's first public response to a deportation plan reported on Friday. The New York Times reported that more than 150 Afghan immigrants are expected to be deported, with the first flight expected as soon as Monday, and that the group would be flown to Pakistan before being transferred across the border into Afghanistan.

Washington cannot arrange deportations directly to Afghanistan because it has no diplomatic relations with the Taliban government, Reuters noted, which is why the reported route runs through Pakistan. The administration has not publicly announced the operation, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has said it does not comment on prospective removal operations, including flight schedules or passenger manifests.

The Afghan statement also warned that "third countries should not treat the citizens of another country as a matter of bargaining in exchange for limited temporary concessions or other considerations." Pakistan and Afghanistan have been at odds over militant attacks, Reuters noted, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of harbouring militants who stage cross-border attacks — a charge Kabul denies.

Advocacy groups have warned that some of those facing removal could face persecution under Taliban rule. The Times reported the group includes relatives of people who assisted the U.S. military and at least one gay man, and AfghanEvac, a coalition of veterans and advocacy groups, has urged Congress to grant Afghans in the United States temporary protected status to shield them from deportation.

What happens next now turns on whether the reported flights proceed as planned — and on whether Kabul's offer of constructive engagement changes how, or how quickly, they move.

Sources: Reuters (Nov 2, 2026); The New York Times (Oct 30, 2026, as reported by Reuters); Afghan foreign ministry statement as reported by Reuters (Nov 2, 2026).