The Pakistani officials on Friday announced the latest decision of the country’s decision regarding the expulsion of the hundreds of thousands of the Afghan refugees.
The officials said the deadline for the stay of the Afghan refugees has been further extended until 30th of June this year.
According to the officials, refugees possessing Proof of Registration cards could continue to stay in the country until June 30 and that the same policy would also be applicable on those holding Afghan Citizen Cards (ACCs).
This comes as the Pakistani officials had earlier announced that the Afghan refugees currently residing in Pakistan should return to their homeland until the end of March.
In the meantime, efforts are underway in Afghanistan to pave the way for the return of the Afghan refugees from the neighboring countries, specifically Pakistan which currently hosts hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees.
Speaking during a gathering to mark the 29th year of the withdrawal of the Soviet forces from Afghanistan in mid-February, President Ghani said the government is committed to bring changes in its priorities in a bid to pave the way for the return of the refugees.
President Ghani further added that he wants all the refugees to return to the country in the next 24 months, insisting that the government does not want the issue of the refugees remain an excuse for the Pakistani authorities.
President Ghani made the remarks in reaction to Pakistani officials’ remarks regarding the misuse of the refugees by the terror outfits.
The foreign ministry of Pakistan in reaction to a drone strike on Haqqani terrorist network member said in January that “Pakistan has also been stressing the need of early repatriation of Afghan refugees as their presence in Pakistan helps Afghan terrorists to melt and morph among them.”
The Minister of Interior of Pakistan Ahsan Iqbal had earlier said that the return of Afghan refugees is prerequisite to deny safe havens to the Afghan militants.
Iqbal told reporters that around three million refugees still reside in Pakistan emphasizing that no one should expect that the country would be able to certify those involved in the cross-border terrorist activities.
According to Iqbal, Pakistan cold only guarantee having no terrorists on its soil when all refugees return to their homeland.
