Pakistan allows Afghans with legal documents to stay

PESHAWAR: (Pajhwok): In a major move, the government of Pakistan on Wednesday allowed Afghan citizens with legal documents to stay.

Afghan refugees with Proof of Registration (PoR) cards could live temporarily in Pakistan, the government said in a notification.

The refugees with legal documents would not be harassed or arrested, according to the notification, which said they would be given protection.

Earlier in the month, Pakistan ordered all “illegal” Afghan migrants to leave the country by November 1 or be ready for being forcibly deported to their homeland.

The UN says around 3.7 million Afghans, who have fled war, poverty, and economic instability their country, are currently living in Pakistan. But Islamabad insists the number is much higher.

Amid a crackdown on illegal aliens in Pakistan, a large number of Afghan families have already returned to their country. Many more are waiting in Torkham and Chaman to cross into their country.

mud