Afghans must travel to India on e-visa: Modi government

THE Indian government on Wednesday (25) said that all Afghan nationals must henceforth travel to India only on e-visa in view of the prevailing situation in the war-torn country.

The decision came days after the Narendra Modi government came up with a new category of visa called “e-Emergency X-Misc visa” for the Afghan nationals after the Taliban retook control of the country on August 15.

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“Owing to the prevailing security situation in Afghanistan and streamlining of the visa process by introduction of the ‘e-Emergency X-Misc visa’, it has been decided that all Afghan nationals henceforth must travel to India only on e-Visa,” a statement from the country's home ministry said.

The ministry also said that owing to some reports that certain passports of Afghan nationals have been misplaced, visas that were previously issued to all Afghan nationals, who are currently not in India, stand invalid with immediate effect.

“Afghan nationals wishing to travel to India may apply for e-Visa,” it said.

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Indian officials said since Indian missions in Afghanistan have been closed, the applications will be examined and processed in New Delhi. The “e-Emergency X-Misc visa” will initially be valid for six months, they said.

All Afghans, irrespective of their religion, can apply for the travel document.

Several thousands of Afghans rushed into Kabul’s main airport after the city fell to the extremist group and some were so desperate to escape the insurgents that they held onto a leaving US military plane and plunged to their deaths.

India has carried out a brisk evacuation mission under which all its embassy staff and several hundred Indians staying in Afghanistan have been brought back home. New Delhi has also evacuated many Afghans, including two parliamentarians of that country, Hindus and Sikhs who faced threats from the Taliban.