With the fast changing situation in Afghanistan with the Taliban taking control and the Indian diplomatic staff returning home, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) late on Tuesday. The Government announced it will issue an emergency e-visa to Afghan nationals who want to come to the country in view of the prevailing situation.
The PM is understood to have directed the officials to take all necessary measures to bring back stranded Indians from Afghanistan in the next few days. Sources quoted the PM as saying, “India must not only protect our citizens, but we must also provide refuge to those Sikh and Hindu minorities who want to come to India, and we must also provide all possible help to our
Afghan brothers and sisters who are looking towards India for assistance”.
Modi was briefed by Ambassador Rudrendra Tandon, who returned with the Indian contingent from Kabul.
Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla attended the CCS meeting.
Meanwhile, reaching out to citizens of Afghanistan, India on Tuesday said 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 power there.
The Indian Embassy in Kabul is not closed and local staff are providing consular services. More than 1,650 people have applied for their return to India, sources said here in the backdrop of the entire Indian diplomatic staff, including Ambassador Tandon, airlifted to New Delhi in an IAF aircraft.
All Afghans, irrespective of their religion, can apply for the “e-Emergency X-Misc Visa” online and the applications will be processed in New Delhi. The announcement came two days after the Taliban captured power in Afghanistan.
There are Sikh and Hindus living in Afghanistan for long. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday had appealed to the Central Government to bring out Sikhs numbering more than 300.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs reviews visa provisions in view of the current situation in Afghanistan. A new category of electronic visa called ‘e-Emergency X-Misc Visa’ introduced to fast-track visa applications for entry into India,” officials said.
Officials said since Indian missions in Afghanistan are shut, the visa can be applied online and applications will be examined and processed in New Delhi. The visa will initially be valid for six months, they said.
Security issues will be looked into while processing the applications and granting the visa to Afghan nationals, the officials said. All Afghans, irrespective of their religion, can apply for the travel document.