Afghanistan, July 31 -- Pakistan will extend the stay of about 16,000 Afghan women, children and elderly people on humanitarian grounds, while authorities continue reviewing the status of tens of thousands of other Afghans whose legal residency documents are not currently valid.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the extension was approved to address humanitarian concerns and protect vulnerable groups. Pakistani officials have previously said that more than 16,000 Afghans had been identified for temporary exemption from repatriation following screening and due diligence.
At the same time, authorities are reviewing the cases of about 89,000 Afghan nationals who do not currently have valid legal residency documents. Andrabi sa...