Pakistan extended the deadline for the deportation of millions of Afghan refugees to Sept. 1, officials said Wednesday as the United Nations welcomed the decision while expressing concern over coerced returns.
Afghans have fled to Pakistan over the past four decades to escape war, political instability and economic hardship in their homeland. An estimated 1.4 million are now registered with the U.N. refugee agency and have Proof of Residence cards, or PoR, issued by Pakistani authorities, which have refused to reissue them after June 30, the original deadline for voluntary reptariation, drawing criticism from rights groups.
