INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Pakistan on Monday opened three new border crossings to accelerate the repatriation of undocumented Afghan nationals who have been ordered
to leave the country or face expulsion, officials said.The new crossings were set up at the Afghan border in southwestern Balochistan
province in addition to the main crossing in Chaman district, said Jan Achakzai, information minister for the provincial caretaker
government, Reuters reported.The main crossing had been overwhelmed with Afghan refugees seeking to return home voluntarily, he said.More
than 280,000 Afghan nationals have left Pakistan since the new policy was announced in early October, according to the United Nations High
Commissioner For Refugees (UNHCR).Islamabad has begun round-up operations across the country after the deadline for voluntary departure
1.Pakistan has so far rejected calls from the United Nations, rights groups and Western embassies to reconsider its expulsion plan.Kabul has
also asked Islamabad to give Afghan nationals ample time to leave.The expulsion drive has driven relations between the neighbours to a new
low, with Islamabad reiterating its claim that militants use Afghan soil to plan and carry out attacks in Pakistan
Kabul says Pakistan&s security is a domestic problem. The post Pakistan opens new border crossings to expedite Afghans& repatriation first
