Afghanistan foreign ministry on Thursday requested Tehran not to expel Afghan refugees living in Iran.
"We are hopeful that the Islamic Republic of Iran to keep in mind cordial relations, assisting Afghanistan over the past six years and keeping in mind the cold winter, review its policy with regard to refugees expulsion particularly in harsh winter," Afghan foreign ministry spokesman Sultan Ahmad Baheen said at a press briefing.
More than 1.5 million Afghans, according to Iran officials, have been living in the Islamic Republic illegally and Tehran decided to deport them.
"We have very cordial and friendly relations with Iran and hope that our bilateral relations would further expand," Baheen added.
Iran last year also announced to expel 20,000 Afghan refugees from its eastern border with Afghanistan the Sistan-Baluchistan province but after bilateral talks Tehran suspended their deportation till next spring.
More than four million Afghans have returned home since the collapse of Taliban regime in late 2001 while more than three million others mostly in Pakistan and Iran are still waiting the conducive condition to return.
Source:Xinhua
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