The government of Afghanistan has announced that it will permit people holding visas issued by the former Western-backed government to stay in the country for now.
However, the authorities stressed that foreigners would not be allowed back in without documents from a Taliban-approved diplomatic mission, VisaGuide.World reports.
The Taliban’s Foreign Ministry clarified in an announcement made on July 30 that it would no longer accept documents from consulates and diplomatic missions abroad staffed by members of the former government.
Such an announcement came as part of the Taliban’s efforts to gain control of Afghanistan’s representation abroad since returning to power back in 2021.
As a result of the blacklist of Taliban diplomatic missions in Australia, Canada, as well as several other European countries, a large number of people may be obliged to travel hundreds of miles in order to get documents issued, certified or renewed.
Through a statement, the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry announced that documents from missions in Australia, Canada, Greece, Italy, Norway, Poland, Sweden, France, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom are considered invalid unless they are registered with the ministry in Kabul.
The documents otherwise are invalid due to administrative corruption, lack of transparency and lack of coordination.
According to the Ministry, the documents were in clear violation of principles, however, it didn’t mention specifically what these principles are.
Taliban’s Foreign Ministry Lists European Diplomatic Missions It Considers ‘Acceptable’
The Taliban’s Foreign Ministry has said that at present, its acceptable diplomatic missions in Europe are the Consulate General in Munich, Germany and the Taliban’s embassies located in the following countries:
- Bulgaria
- Czechia
- Netherlands
- Spain
According to a statement issued by a council representing ambassadors, which was appointed by the previous government, those missions remain committed to providing consular services together with host country authorities.
Regrettably, through their miscalculated and short-sighted actions, the Taliban have repeatedly created problems for Afghan refugees and citizens who reside outside their country.
According to a report from Stripes, the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry didn’t respond related to the number of Afghans affected by this decision. The Ministry said online consular services were not yet available.
Local media reports noted that in March 2023, the Taliban said they were attempting to take charge of the high number of Afghan embassies located in other countries. Back then, the chief spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the administration had sent diplomats to at least 14 countries.