KABUL - More than a million Afghan refugees living with their families in neighboring Iran have been issued with passports as part of the first phase of their identification and registration process, an official said on Sunday.
The process that began on March 21 had concluded on June 21, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Janan Musazai told a press conference in Kabul.

The refugees, who were issued passports having three months visas by the Iranian government through the Afghan embassy and consulates in Tehran, had earlier no such documents, he said.

He added: "The visas can be extended for another nine months." The second phase of registration will begin after the holy month of Ramadan, when another 35,000 Afghan refugees will be registered and given passports.

Musazai said the Afghans who did not have families in Iran should come to Afghanistan to receive their passports and visas. With the completion of the registration process, he explained, not a single Afghan would remain in Iran without legal documents.

He said those who wanted to travel to Iran for employment after the registration process had to complete their legal documents in Afghanistan.

Afghans who had received legal documents could send their children to school in Iran and they would avail all the facilities, including health insurance, enjoyed by legal immigrants.

Another 90,000 Afghans have already been provided with legal documents by the government of Iran. Musazai said they were not required to have visas and passports, but they could obtain the documents, if they so desired. (Pajhwok)