Six months for Afghan nationals to stay in India

Indian-origin people who fled Afghanistan during its civil unrest have six months more to stay in India, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

There are 18,433 Afghan nationals of Indian origin living in Delhi, 853 in Faridabad and four in Chennai, Minister of State for Home Affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal said in a reply. They have been allowed to stay in India up to June 30, 2006, he added.

However, eligible Afghan nationals can apply for Indian citizenship under the 1955 Citizenship Act, the minister said.