ISLAMABAD, Oct 2: The repatriation programme of Afghan refugees from Pakistan has been temporary postponed. The decision was taken because of the Oct 9 Afghan presidential elections.

BBC quoted the UNHCR spokesman in Islamabad Jack Redon as saying that repatriation programme was postponed because of the registration process of voters.

According to the UNHCR spokesman's statement, the repatriation of Afghan refugees would be resumed from October 11.

Jack Redon said that the International Organization for Migration organized the registration process of the Afghan refugees staying in Pakistan between Oct 1 and Oct 3.

He said that more than 2.27 million Afghan refugees have so far returned to their country from Pakistan after launching of repatriation programme in March 2002.

About 367,000 Afghan refugees returned to Afghanistan this year, he added.

According to the UN, there are still one million Afghan refugees in Pakistan.-APP