The caretaker government of Pakistan has granted approval for the extension of the residency of 1.3 million undocumented Afghan refugees, Pakistani media reported.  

The extension allows these refugees to stay in Pakistan until March 2024, Khyber News reported, adding that the cabinet division had raised objections to the initial summary submitted by the Safran ministry.

Meanwhile, the consulate of the Islamic Emirate in Karachi, Abdul Jabar Takhari, also told TOLOnews that the Pakistani government gave a two-month deadline for the 1.4 million undocumented Afghan refugees.

“According to the interim government of Pakistan, 1.4 million undocumented Afghan refugees still exist in Pakistan who have a deadline until the end of March to live in Pakistan and after that either leave Pakistan or there will be a new plan for them,” he said.

The refugees rights activists called on the Islamic Emirate to pay attention to the challenges of the Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

“Extension of residency of Afghan refugees in Pakistan is a good step but there is need for an organized plan for the Afghan refugees,” said Mohammd Khan Talibi Mohammadzai, a refugee rights activist.

Meanwhile, the Afghan refugees in Pakistan complained about facing severe challenges in the country.

“They should not deport us, we will extend our visa and we will stay here,” said Nikzai, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan.

“The Afghan refugees are facing a lot of challenges in Afghanistan. They also face economic problems,” said Shaheen, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan.

Based on the statistics of the consulate of the Islamic Emirate in Pakistan, nearly 600,000 Afghan refugees have been either deported or have returned to Afghanistan within the last three months.