Recent data indicates that since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, Afghan refugees resettled in the United States have shown signs of potential security threats, highlighting long-standing concerns that Pakistan has consistently raised about Afghanistan’s capacity to destabilise not only the region but also global peace.
According to figures obtained from the US Department of Homeland Security, a total of 6,868 Afghan refugees have been flagged for potential “security threats” since 2021, with over 5,000 identified as suspicious in relation to national security. An additional 956 individuals were flagged over public safety concerns, while roughly 900 were investigated for possible fraud.
Despite efforts by US authorities to resolve many of these cases, as of September 2025, 885 Afghan refugees were still considered a potential threat. The data comes shortly after an Afghan asylum seeker was charged in Washington with the killing of a National Guardsman and wounding another, underscoring the continuing risks linked to the evacuation process.
Experts have pointed to weaknesses in the security vetting process under the US “Welcome Allies” program. Officials noted that the urgency of evacuating Afghans in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover led to routine background checks being skipped, which increased the risk of malicious actors entering the country. Reports from US oversight bodies describe the approach as “fragmented and disjointed,” further complicating security assessments.
Since August 2021, over 183,000 Afghans, including local partners and their families, have been relocated to the United States. Investigations have also revealed that 55 individuals on the US terrorism watch list entered the country during this period, some added to the list only after evacuation.
The ongoing findings reinforce what Pakistan has repeatedly emphasised: the Afghan Taliban regime continues to foster conditions that can threaten not only its neighbours but international stability. Analysts say the international community is beginning to recognise these dangers, validating Pakistan’s long-standing warnings about the potential for Afghanistan to serve as a hub for cross-border militancy and broader security risks.
