A spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs had said that, “The Ministry of Home Affairs has reviewed the visa provisions in view of the current situation in Afghanistan. A new category of ‘e-emergency and other visas’ (E-Visa) has been created for speedy decision making on visa applications for entry into India.
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Kabul. Everything has changed after the arrival of Taliban in Afghanistan. Most countries including India are working to evacuate their citizens and diplomats from there as soon as possible. Meanwhile, after the deteriorating situation in the neighboring country, the central government has taken a big decision. Now Afghan citizens will be able to travel to India only on E-Visa. Through this order, an attempt has been made to streamline the visa process by introducing the e-emergency ex-variety visa.
Actually, this decision has been taken keeping in mind the reports in which it was claimed that some passports of Afghan citizens have been lost. In such a situation, visas issued earlier to Afghan citizens who are not currently in India, become invalid with immediate effect. This decision has been taken at a time when India is trying to evacuate itself and other citizens after the Taliban occupation of Afghanistan.
Even before this, in view of the current situation in Afghanistan, India announced on August 17 that an emergency ‘e-visa’ would be issued to Afghan nationals who wish to come to India. All Afghan citizens of any religion can apply online for ‘e-emergency and other visas’ and their applications will be processed in New Delhi.
Why did the government take this decision?
After the Taliban’s control over Afghanistan, the decision has been taken keeping in mind the security situation. A statement issued by the ministry said, “In view of the security situation in Afghanistan, all Afghan nationals should henceforth travel to India only on e-visa.”
Union Minister Hardeep Puri said that now a total of 626 people (out of which 228 are citizens of India) have been evacuated from Afghanistan. Of these people, 77 are Sikhs living in Afghanistan. He told that the people working in the Indian embassy are not included in this number.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has also announced that in the wake of reports that some Afghan nationals have lost their passports, visas issued earlier to all Afghan nationals who are not currently in India are canceled with immediate effect. “Afghan citizens desirous of visiting India can apply for an e-visa,” the ministry said.
Officials said that all diplomatic establishments of India in Afghanistan are closed, so the work of scrutinizing the applications and taking the process forward on it will be done in New Delhi. The ’emergency and other visa’ will be initially valid for six months. All Afghan citizens, irrespective of religion, can apply for this travel document.
After the Taliban occupation in Afghanistan, a large number of people gathered at Kabul airport trying to get out of the country. Many people also lost their lives in this effort.
India has also evacuated its diplomats, civilians and several Afghan nationals, including two MPs, from Afghanistan. As of Monday night, about 730 people had been evacuated from Afghanistan. The process of evacuating people started on 16 August. India is conducting evacuation operations in coordination with the US and other friendly countries. (with agency input)
