Talks on with Iran on extending refugees’ visas

KABUL): A government delegation is visiting Tehran to discuss with Iranian officials extending visas for Afghan refugees in the neighboring country, an official said on Tuesday.

Led by Minister of Refugee and Repatriation Jamahir Anwari, the team would deliver President Hamid Karzai’s message to his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rohani.

Ministry of Refugee and Repatriation spokesman Islamuddin Juraat told Pajhwok Afghan News the delegation would urge Iranian officials to extend the Sept. 6 deadline for non-refugee Afghans to leave the country.

“We hope Iran will extend the deadline,” said Juraat, who explained only 600,000 Afghans in Iran had legal documents while 1400,000 others lacked valid papers.

Visas of 600,000 Afghans would expire three days later, but the delegation would seek an extension for them, the official said. The team includes interior and foreign ministries’ officials.

mds/ma

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