The United Nations on Friday said that Pakistan has extended refugee status for over a million Afghans living in the country that was set to expire on June 30.
The UN’s refugee agency said that Pakistan agreed to extend their status while it came up with a new policy.
Pakistan has been hosting Afghan refugees dating back to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan three decades ago.
There are 1.6 million registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan and about an equal unregistered.
Pakistan has said it will not forcibly evict Afghans. However, revoking their refugee status would encourage people to return to Afghanistan.
Refugee status allows Afghans to get a government ID card that they use for everyday activities like banking or registering for school.
A majority of Pakistanis have become frustrated with the length of time Afghans have stayed and want them to leave. There are reports which claim that Afghan refugees have been found involved in violence, theft, kidnapping for ransom and terrorist activities.
