Pakistan extends stay for Afghan refugees

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday extended the stay for Afghan refugees in his country, pushing back a previously announced deadline by three months, a government statement said. The decision, which came at a Cabinet meeting in the capital, Islamabad, will enable registered Afghan refugees to stay here until the end of March. Pakistan is currently hosting at least 1.5 million refugees. An additional 1 million unregistered Afghans have been staying in many parts of Pakistan since 1980s, when they escaped the violence at home. The government’s announcement came amid reports that Pakistani authorities have been forcing Afghans to go back home even before the expiration of the previous, Dec. 31 deadline. The statement quoted Sharif as saying “Afghans are our brothers and very dear to us. Adequate and concrete steps will be ensured for facilitation of Afghan refugees living in Pakistan.” Sharif also asked Pakistani officials to meet with representatives of Afghan refugees to address their concerns. — AP