India announces emergency e-visas for Afghan nationals, embassy still providing consular services

• e-Emergency X-Misc Visas are valid only for 6 months.
• This will ensure fast-track visa applications.
• More than 1,650 Indian citizens have reportedly applied for their return to India.

The Indian government on August 17 announced that it will issue an emergency e-visa to Afghan nationals who want to come to the country in view of the prevailing situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban captured the capital city of Kabul.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has introduced this e-visa system to quickly and easily assist citizens from Afghanistan trying to enter India. This will ensure fast-track visa applications.



With the Taliban taking control of Afghanistan and President Ashraf Ghani fleeing the country, panic and helplessness have gripped people of the war-ravaged country, which was evident from video footage being broadcast by local and global media outlets.

These visas will be valid for only 6 months and they are only for security clearance.

There is no clarity on what will happen when the e-Emergency X-Misc Visa’s validity period expires.

Fear has been looming large in the war-torn nation, which fell to the Taliban fighters on Sunday as the US forces started leaving the country after 20 years of occupation. Thousands have been swarming the airport in Kabul desperately for a chance to leave the country.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the situation in Afghanistan is being monitored and the government will take all steps to ensure the safety and security of the Indian nationals and India’s interests in Afghanistan, as per a report by news agency ANI.

The news agency also reported on Tuesday that the Indian Embassy in Kabul is not closed and the local staff is providing consular services, and that more than 1,650 people have applied for their return to India.

ANI reported, quoting sources it did not name, that for evacuations, India has parked its C-17 aircraft at Ayni Air Base in Tajikistan as there was a huge rush at Kabul airport in Afghanistan. As per the report, the Indian aircraft were on standby at Ayni Air Base and they flew to Kabul when cleared by the US, which is controlling Kabul Airport. India is also exploring options to hire charter planes to evacuate more Indians, the news report added.

The Indian embassy was reportedly also under observation by the Taliban, and the high-security Green Zone — the heavily fortified district that houses most embassies and international organisations — was breached.





SEE ALSO
Windows 11 Microsoft rolling out updated snipping tool, calculator and mail apps
INTERVIEW: Infibeam Avenues is looking to acquire a point-of-sale company