Iran extends visas for 450 Afghan refugees

KABUL (Pajhwok): The government of Iran has extended work visas of 450 Afghan refugees for six more months, an official said on Saturday.

A rehabilitation centre for people with disabilities was also being opened by Iran in Kabul, the first deputy chief executive officer (CEO) said.

The Iranian government took the decision during a recent visit to Tehran by Mohammad Mohaqiq.

In late October, the Iranian government announced foreign nationals who were found without visas after December 22 would be arrested.

Currently, about two million Afghans are living in Iran, with only 50 percent having legal documents. The rest are illegal immigrants.

Under an agreement with the Iran government, Tehran will also provide 500 scholarships to Afghan students. The agreement was previously suspended due to technical problems.

Iran pledged to send a delegation to Kabul for reactivation of an rehabilitation centre for special people. The centre was previously active under the name of Payambar-i-Azam.

Ali Iftikhari, spokesman for the ministry of refugees in Tehran, told Pajhwok Afghan News the centre was activated in 2011 but it was later closed by the Afghan Attorney General Office (AGO) due to security threats.

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