Afghan refugees urge Pakistan to ease visa regime after Trump’s pause on US resettlement programs

Afghan refugees are appealing to Pakistan’s premier to ease a visa regime on humanitarian grounds after President Donald Trump paused the U.S. refugee programs, panicking thousands of Afghans who said they are now facing a risk of arrests and deportations to Afghanistan. “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,” Ahmad Shah, a member of the Afghan USRAP Refugees advocacy group, said Friday. However, Pakistan says it is yet to receive any official intimation from Washington about the suspension of the program.