Pakistani authorities announced Wednesday that it is extending the stay of Afghan refugees who legally reside in the country, amid a campaign of forced deportation of illegal immigrants ,which has hitherto resulted in the departure of over half million Afghan refugees from Pakistan to their homeland. In a statement, the Pakistani Prime Minister's Office reported that the Cabinet of Shehbaz Sharif has now allowed the refugees who have legal status to remain in the country until the end of June 2025, in response to the request of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Pakistani local sources stated that such a step came one day after the meeting of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees with Sharif during his visit to Islamabad. Pakistan had, so far, announced a campaign to deport illegal Afghan refugees following an increase in cross-border attacks between the two countries. It reiterated earlier this year that it would also deport Afghans registered as refugees with United Nations High C ommissioner for Refugees. Source: Qatar News Agency