UN welcomes Pakistan's move on Afghan refugees

(March 29, 2010) The United Nations refugee agency has welcomed Pakistan's decision to allow nearly 1.7 million Afghan refugees to remain in the country for three more years. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said as a host to the largest refugee population in the world Pakistan's help was vital. The decision to allow Afghan refugees to remain in Pakistan till 2012 is part of a new policy that was approved by the federal cabinet in Islamabad. The refugees live mainly in designated villages or among host communities. Last year the UNHCR temporarily suspended operations helping Afghans return home from Pakistan in order to safeguard the security of its staff.