LONDON: The UK will relocate Afghan refugees from Pakistan who had been promised sanctuary in Britain on charter flights starting Thursday, the BBC reported. Thousands of refugees who had worked alongside Western coalition forces before the Taliban takeover had moved to neighboring Pakistan for safety after the evacuation from the country. They have lived in hotels funded by the UK government while awaiting permission to move to Britain, with some families waiting for almost two years. Many had received UK visas ahead of they planned journey to Britain, but the documents have now expired due to delays in the UK relocation schemes for Afghan refugees. The plan to use charter flights to relocate the refugees follows a decision by Pakistan to begin deporting illegal migrants in November. Afghans in neighboring Pakistan include former translators who worked with the British Army, as well as teachers who were employed by the British Council. UK government data shows that about 3,250 Afghans, including men, women and children, are living in temporary accommodation in Islamabad while they await decisions on applications to the resettlement schemes. Many have no legal right to work in Pakistan, and their children are unable to access education due to a lack of documentation. One of the refugees in Pakistan told the BBC: “I am just concerned what will happen if my family will not be on one of those flights until the end of December. “My wife is pregnant, and if we don’t travel soon, we may have to wait into next year.” The Independent reported that the first charter flight will take about 200 Afghans to the UK on Thursday. It is believed that at least 12 flights will take place in a bid to relocate all 3,250 refugees by the end of the year. A government spokesperson said: “The UK has made an ambitious and generous commitment to help at-risk people in Afghanistan and, so far, we have brought around 24,600 people to safety, including thousands of people eligible for our Afghan schemes. “We continue to honor our commitments to bring eligible Afghans to the UK, with new arrivals going directly into settled accommodation where possible.”