**ISTANBUL**
Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Thursday urged the “gradual” return of Afghan refugees from Pakistan and other countries, Dawn News reported.
The foreign minister was speaking Wednesday at an iftar event for diplomats in Kabul, which was attended by Pakistani Charge d’Affaires Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani.
Amir Khan Muttaqi noted that millions of Afghans have migrated to various countries, including Pakistan and Iran, in the last four decades, expressing hopes for their “peaceful” return.
“Refugees should be respected and their return should be gradual and dignified,” Muttaqi underscored. “We have no security problems throughout the country, but there are some problems that make it difficult to prepare for the arrival of refugees all at once.”
He requested support from international organizations to handle the influx and urged countries to be patient while ensuring refugees are treated well.
Earlier this month, the Pakistani government "advised" all illegal foreigners and Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders to leave the country by the end of March.
The ACC is an identification document provided to registered Afghan nationals by Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority.
UN data shows that there are more than 800,000 ACC holders in Pakistan.
In October 2023, Pakistan launched the “Illegal Foreigners' Repatriation Plan,” under which Islamabad repatriated 757,008 undocumented Afghans to its western neighbor until late last year.
Similarly, Iran repatriated at least 450,00 refugees, mostly from Afghanistan, in the three months until November 2024.
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