, Aug. 4 -- Pakistani authorities have resumed the forced repatriation of Afghan refugees after the federal government declined to extend the stay of nearly 1.4 million Afghans holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, officials said on Monday.

The legal status of these PoR card holders expired at the end of June. Many had appealed for a one-year extension to settle matters such as property sales and business closures before returning to Afghanistan.

Alongside PoR card holders, an estimated 800,000 Afghans with Afghan Citizen Cards are also being targeted. Police in provinces including Punjab, Balochistan, and Sindh say these individuals are living in the country without valid documents and are being detained ahead of deportation.

The...