PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): The US State Department has promised to boost its capacity to process applications of the Afghan refugees stranded in Pakistan.
This initiative, which began in July 2023 on a limited scale, aims to address the plight of Afghan refugees seeking asylum in Pakistan.
In a statement sent to Congress, the State Department said it continued to work with Pakistan to expand that processing capacity.
Following the political change two years back, tens of thousands of Afghans entered Pakistan, seeking relocation to the US and other Western countries.
According to Dawn, the United States has so far considered 25,351 Afghan citizens for resettlement. Around 4,752 Afghans have already found new homes in the country.
In its statement, the State Department also voiced concerns about the broader human rights situation in the region.
It alleged the Saudi, Iranian and Pakistani governments had been using blasphemy laws to curtail religious freedom, restrict the rights of minorities and limit freedom of expression.
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