Kabul asks Pakistan to extend the stay of Afghan refugees for another year

Beijing. January 15. Silkroadnews - The Afghan authorities asked Pakistan to extend the stay of refugees in the country until the end of 2018, the Afghan Telegraph Agency (AfTAG) reports.
To remind, the term of the proof of registration to stay in the country for 1 million Afghan refugees ended on December 31 last year, but Pakistan extended it by one month.
Representative of the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad Zardasht Shams noted that Pakistan’s decision to return more than 1 million refugees within a month caused concern of the Afghan side.
“We are trying to persuade the authorities in Pakistan to extend the stay of Afghan refugees till the end of the ongoing year. Still, we have also informed the refugees to be ready for repatriation at any time,” he said.
As the Afghan television channel 1TV reports, this week, Afghan ambassador to Pakistan, Omar Zakhilwal, held meeting with UNHCR mission head in Islamabad to discuss the issue of refugees including their repatriation process. The sides discussed the problems of Afghan refugees in the country and issues related to their return to the homeland.