Pakistan issues over 2,000 visas in a day to Afghans

Move part of Islamabad’s new policy to improve relations with Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul issued over 2,000 visas in a single day on Oct. 12, following the government’s decision to facilitate Afghan citizens, an official said on Tuesday.

The move is part of Islamabad’s new policy to improve its relations with the western neighbor following its globally appreciated role in the Afghan peace process to end the nearly two-decade long war in Afghanistan.

"Yesterday, 12 October, Pakistan Embassy in Kabul issued 2059 visas to Afghan nationals. We are working to further facilitate visa applicants," Mansoor Ahmad Khan, Pakistan’s ambassador to Kabul, tweeted.

He announced that his country's consulates in Afghanistan will continue issuing visas to Afghan citizens.

On Sept. 29, Pakistan’s federal cabinet approved a new visa policy for Afghanistan to issue multiple entry visit visas to facilitate Afghan traders and citizens.

"The cabinet has approved a new visa policy for Afghan citizens. Acquiring visas will be easy for Afghan visitors with multiple entry visit visas and long-term business, investment and student visas. A new category of health visa is also introduced which will be issued on border," Pakistan special representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, said after the decision.

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Earlier, Pakistan embassy and consulates in Afghanistan were issuing only one-time entry visas to Afghan visitors.

Last month, Islamabad also opened all border terminals with Afghanistan located in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, including key Torkham crossing point, for pedestrian traffic which were closed due to the Covid-19 outbreak in the country since March.

Islamabad also announced to establish 12 markets in the border areas with Afghanistan and Iran to push business activities at border areas with its neighbors.

The new initiative came while Abdullah Abdullah, the man leading Afghanistan’s peace process, was in Islamabad on a three-day visit on Sept. 28.

Landlocked Afghanistan has for decades relied mostly on Pakistani overland routes and seaports for bilateral and international trade.

However, tensions due to accusations of supporting militants in each other countries have significantly undermined the bilateral trade activities in recent years.

In a statement following a meeting with Abdullah last month, Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed the hope that Abdullah’s visit will help open a new chapter in Kabul and Islamabad’s often troubled relationship, adding that he will be visiting Afghanistan soon on President Ashraf Ghani’s invitation.