Former US envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has warned in a thought-provoking tweet that Pakistani security forces may use the process of deporting Afghan refugees as a "cover" for the transfer of ISIS forces to Afghanistan. The warning is simple and short on the surface, but it carries several complex political, security and geopolitical messages that need to be examined more carefully.
Publish dateWednesday 16 April 2025 - 17:38
Story Code : 312997
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): Pakistan has been hosting millions of Afghan refugees for years. However, in recent months, the process of mass and sudden deportation of migrants, especially those without legal documents, has accelerated.
Former US envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has recently expressed concern over the spread of ISIS in the guise of refugees.
Quoted by the Afghan interpreter; Khalilzad believes the move is not just an immigration policy, but could be part of a complex security scenario. The use of the word "cover" clearly refers to classic intelligence tactics in which seemingly legitimate operations are used for covert purposes.
ISIS; A tool of pressure or control over Afghanistan?
If Khalilzad's assumption is correct, the transfer of ISIS elements to Afghanistan could be for several purposes:
1. Destabilizing the rule of the Islamic Emirate: Pakistan has established complex relations with the Islamic Emirate and while cooperating, it also has dissatisfaction with their independence and rebellion. The strengthening of ISIS could be a tool to weaken the authority of the Islamic Emirate in some areas.
2. Creating a threat against regional rivals: The presence of ISIS in Afghanistan is a threat to the interests of China, Iran, Russia and even Central Asia. This could be part of Pakistan's multi-layered game to negotiate with world powers.
3. Maintaining bargaining leverage with the West: At a time when Islamabad's relations with Washington are cold, Pakistan may use the threat of ISIS as a pressure cooker to regain international attention and aid.
Message to the United States and the international community
Khalilzad uses the hashtag USA at the end of his tweet, which is more than a media hashtag. He is trying to draw the attention of Washington and Western partners to the potential threat of an ISIS return. Past experience has shown that ignoring covert movements in Afghanistan, especially by Pakistan, has had heavy costs.
Finally; Although there is no documented and official evidence of the transfer of ISIS to Afghanistan in the form of deportation of migrants, the historical background, the structure of the region's security apparatus and the interplay of the powers involved do not make Khalilzad's hypothesis ignorable.
Fragile Afghanistan could easily become a new playground for proxy and extremist groups. In such circumstances, any suspicious movement must be taken seriously, not just as a Twitter warning, but as part of a bitter regional reality that may once again become a victim of power games.
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