Refugees allowed to vote in Afghan elections

The Afghanistan government has allowed refugees living in Chaman and other border areas to vote in Saturday's presidential and provincial elections.

The Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan has established a polling station mainly for the refugees in Vesh Mandi, the first Afghan town across the Chaman border, Dawn online reported.

The Pakistan-Afghanistan border would remain shut Saturday and Afghan refugees who wants to cast their votes would be allowed to cross the border through the Friendship Gate near Chaman.

Refugees and tribesman living on both sides of the border are allowed to cast their votes.

The refugees would have to come on foot and not use their vehicles to cross the border and also would have to provide valid documents to prove their identity, a commander of Afghan border force said.

The refugees and other Afghan nationals living in Pakistan would return to their camps and houses after casting their votes.

In the previous two presidential elections, polling stations were also established in Pakistani territory.

The Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Friendship Gate in Chaman was Friday completely closed by the border forces of the two countries to avert any unwanted incident on the eve of the Afghan polls.