PESHAWAR, Oct 29: Honorary adviser to UNHCR Asma Alamgir said here on Monday that government would not expel registered Afghans from Pakistan who are likely to lose their refugee status by the end of December.

Talking to refugees in Kababyan Camp, she called upon international community to create conducive environment for the safe return of millions of Afghans who had taken refuge in Pakistan and other countries. UNHCR country head Neill Wright also accompanied her.

She said that refugees could not return to their country until peace was restored in Afghanistan and assured them that Pakistan would not force them to leave. She dispelled the impression that registered Afghans would be expelled after tripartite agreement among Pakistan, Afghanistan and UNHCR expires in December.

The agreement was signed in 2009 allowing some 1.7 million registered Afghans to continue their stay by the end of December 2012. The federal government is yet to give extension to registered Afghans to legalise their refugee status.

Asma Alamgir said that international community should fulfil its responsibility to send Afghan refugees to their country with dignity.

She said that some elements were trying to harm brotherly relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. She said that elected governments in the two countries were trying to resolve basic issues of their people. She said that stable and peaceful Afghanistan was in the interest of Pakistan.