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The United Nations said that refugees residing in Pakistan should be allowed to exit the country voluntarily and no pressure should be exerted on them.
“Any refugee return must be voluntary and without any pressure to ensure protection for those seeking safety,” Qaisar Khan Afridi, a spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
The UNHCR official termed the press reports about a plan to deport undocumented Afghans “disconcerting” and said the body was seeking clarity from “our government partners”.
Afridi asked Pakistan to come up with a plan that ensures all Afghan nations with international protection are not deported, noting that Islamabad has been “generously hosting refugees for more than 40 years”.
