Geneva, Aug. 6 -- The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has raised concerns over Pakistan's intention to forcibly return Afghan refugees holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards.

On July 31, Pakistan confirmed that Afghan refugees would be repatriated under its ongoing 'Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan'. Over the past days, UNHCR has received reports of arrests and detention of Afghans across the country, including PoR cardholders, the UN body said.

The Pakistan government announced that the formal repatriation and deportation of over 1.3 million Afghan refugees holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards will begin on September 1, Dawn reported. This decision comes after the interior ministry declared that PoR cardholders, who were previous...