Pakistan consulate in Jalalabad reopens

Thousands arrive in Jalalabad to obtain Pakistani visas

After over a month of closure, Pakistan's Consulate General in Jalalabad resumed operations today.

Thousands of Afghan nationals arrived in Jalalabad to obtain Pakistani visas.

Protesting against Afghan officials' interference in the activities of diplomatic staff, the Pakistani embassy in Kabul had closed down the Jalalabad consulate on August 30.

The embassy also called on the ministry of foreign affairs to restrain the Nangarhar governor from interfering in the consulate’s affairs.

Taking to Twitter, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said the consulate will resume operations after assurances by the Afghan government that the diplomatic office will be provided with necessary security.

Pakistan’s Consulate General in Jalalabad which was closed on 30th August 2018 will resume its visa operations, after assurances by the Afghan government that all necessary and required security will be provided to the Consulate Generalz 1/2

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) October 7, 2018

"All visa applicants in Jalalabad and surrounding areas within the jurisdiction of the Consulate General could now apply for visa with the Consulate General with effect from Monday 8th October 2018," he wrote on Twitter.

All visa applicants in Jalalabad and surrounding areas within the jurisdiction of the Consulate General could now apply for visa with the Consulate General with effect from Monday 8th October 2018. 2/2

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) October 7, 2018

On Monday, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressed concern over the closure of the country’s consulate in the Afghan city of Jalalabad and was assured by his Afghan counterpart of a “positive outcome” in the matter.



Last month, FM Qureshi requested his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani to restore security arrangements allowing the consulate general to resume routine activities.

“The issue of closure of the Pakistan Consulate General in Jalalabad due to a security crisis was also discussed. Qureshi requested the Afghan Government for restoring the previous security arrangements existing till 28th August 2018, so that the Consulate General’s normal functioning could be resumed at the earliest,” said a statement.