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ISLAMABAD, Oct 30: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has halted voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan because of the onset of winter.
Thursday was the last day of the current year for the facilitated return of refugees, a UNHCR spokesman said. The process will resume in March next year.
The UNHCR advised Afghan nationals not to approach its centres during the four-month winter break when no repatriation case would be processed.
According to the agency, there are 1.8 million Afghans in Pakistan. About 3.5 million refugees have been helped to return to their homeland over the past six years.
