The Afghanistan consulate in Karachi, Abdul Jabar Takhari, said that based on a decision of the Pakistani government, the Afghan refugees whose passports are invalid can return to Afghanistan if they have electronic identification cards.
The move was facilitated as a gesture on the arrival of Eid al-Adha, according to the consulate.
“We made contact with the minister and wrote a letter, so the Afghan prisoners will be released before Eid and they should return to the country,” he said.
Takhari said that efforts are underway to release 282 Afghan refugees who are imprisoned by the Pakistan government.
This comes as some refugees interviewed by TOLOnews expressed concerns about issuance of passports and called on the officials of the Islamic Emirate to address their problems.
“We are facing many problems. I go to the embassy everyday and I have not been able to extend my passport, then there are problems,” said Jahanzib, an Afghan refugee.
“The majority of refugees living in Iran, they just work as laborers. One passport cost them $350,” said Latifa, an Afghan refugee.
The refugee rights activists said that Afghan refugees are facing severe challenges in neighboring countries, particularly in Iran and Pakistan.
“The conduct of the police with the Afghan refugees is not good. They are being arrested for small issues and being harassed,” said Sediq Kakar, a refugee rights activist.
“The refugees face a lack of areas to live and a lack of identification documents. The Islamic Emirate should pay attention to this,” said Asifa Stanikzai, a refugee rights activist.
With Afghanistan going through a severe economic crisis, many citizens are seeking to leave the country, many of them through illegal paths.
