The UN refugee chief called on Pakistan Wednesday to pause its mass expulsions of Afghan refugees after an earthquake in eastern Afghanistan killed nearly 1,500.

Thousands of Afghans who were registered as refugees have surged over the border from Pakistan in recent days, with returns escalating despite the weekend's deadly earthquake in Afghanistan, according to officials.

"Given the circumstances, I appeal to the (government of Pakistan) to pause the implementation of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan," Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said on X.

His appeal came as rescue teams continued struggling Wednesday to reach survivors after a shallow magnitude-6.0 earthquake hit the mountainous region bordering Pakistan late on Sunday, collapsing mud-brick homes on fa

See Full Page