Pakistan’s Special Representative Discusses Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Situation with UNHCR Official
Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, has met with Noriko Takagi, the newly appointed representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan, to discuss the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and challenges facing the country.
Sadiq announced the meeting on Wednesday, 4 November, in a post on X, saying the discussions focused on Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation, key challenges and the importance of strengthening international cooperation.
Takagi was appointed as UNHCR’s new representative in Pakistan in October 2026, succeeding Philippa Candler.
She brings nearly three decades of experience in humanitarian affairs and refugee protection across Asia, Africa and Europe. From 2023 to 2026, she served as UNHCR’s representative in Myanmar.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face a major humanitarian and economic crisis, with millions of people in need of assistance.
The United Nations has projected that nearly 2.7 million additional Afghan refugees could return from Pakistan and Iran to Afghanistan by the end of 2026.
The continued return of Afghan refugees has raised concerns about the country’s capacity to provide adequate shelter, employment, healthcare, and other essential services to returnees.
