Afghan refugees urge Pakistan to ease visa regime after Trump’s pause on US resettlement programs Afghan refugees on Friday appealed to Pakistan's premier to ease a visa regime on humanitarian grounds after President Donald Trump paused the U.S. refugee programs.
“We don’t know exactly when the pause of the U.S. refugee program will be lifted, but we request Pakistan to extend our stay for at least six months after the expiry of our visas,” said Ahmad Shah, a member of the Afghan USRAP Refugees advocacy group.
Among those affected are the more than 1,600 Afghans cleared to resettle in the U.S. Pakistan says it is yet to receive any official intimation from the United States about the suspension of the refugee program.
“We don't want to live here permanently, we urge the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to order authorities to extend the visas of Afghan people for at least six months,” he said.
The refugee program was set up to help Afghans at risk under the Taliban because of their work with the U.S. government, media, aid agencies and rights groups.
