<\/p>\n
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) \u201cstand ready\u201d to provide support in registering and managing Afghan nationals, the agencies said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The statement comes amidst the government\u2019s crackdown<\/a> on illegal immigrants residing across the country.<\/p>\n Earlier this week, the government gave an ultimatum<\/a> to all undocumented immigrants, including Afghan nationals, to leave Pakistan by October 31, or else risk imprisonment and deportation to their respective countries.<\/p>\n The decision was taken in an apex committee meeting headed by Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and attended by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, among others.<\/p>\n The committee had decided that movement across the border would be subject to passports and visas, while electronic Afghan identity cards (or e-tazkiras) would only be accepted until Oct 31.<\/p>\n After the passage of the deadline, the authorities will kickstart an operation targeting illegal properties and businesses owned by immigrants or those being run in collaboration with Pakistani nationals.<\/p>\n The move had drawn a response from Afghan authorities, with Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid terming<\/a> it \u201cunacceptable\u201d while urging authorities to revisit the policy.<\/p>\n