Latest news with #NewAFGHANVisa
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First Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
‘New Afghan Visa' module for Taliban-led nation amid post-Pahalgam strategic push
A notification posted on the government's official visa portal announced the launch of the 'New AFGHAN Visa' module available for six categories read more As India and Afghanistan's Taliban improve ties, New Delhi has reopened visa services to Afghan nationals. The visas will be mainly issued to people who want to seek medical treatments in India on a case-to-case basis. Who will get the visas? A notification posted on the government's official visa portal announced the launch of the 'New AFGHAN Visa' module available for six categories. Sources have told the Economic Times that priority will be given to people with ailments. The newly updated portal features categories such as student, business, medical, medical attendant, entry, and UN diplomat visas. Applicants must upload a recent front-facing photograph, along with their passport and national ID card, both of which should include personal details like name, date of birth, nationality, and expiry date. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD New Delhi-Taliban relationship Earlier this month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he held a 'good conversation' with acting Muttaqi during which the two leaders discussed India's 'traditional friendship' with the Taliban-ruled country and the ways to take the bilateral cooperation forward. Jaishankar also appreciated Muttaqi's condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. He also welcomed Muttaqi's 'firm rejection' of what he called 'recent attempts to create distrust between India and Afghanistan through false and baseless reports.' 'Underlined our traditional friendship with the Afghan people and continued support for their development needs. Discussed ways and means of taking cooperation forward,' Jaishankar said. Muttaqi strongly rejected Pakistan's allegations of missile attacks by India on Afghanistan, official sources told PTI. It was an apparent reference to a report in a section of the Pakistani media that claimed India had 'hired' the Taliban to carry out a 'false flag' operation at Pahalgam. India has also approved the entry of 160 buses from Afghanistan carrying dry fruits and nuts via the Attari border in Punjab as a 'special gesture'. Pakistan had initially blocked the Afghan trucks access to pass through the border, following which the country's authorities allowed some of them to unload at Attari.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India relaunches visa services for Afghan nationals
Amid warming up of ties with Taliban, India has relaunched visa services for Afghan nationals. Visas will be issued primarily for people with ailments on a case-to-case basis. A notification on the government's official visa portal, launched the 'New AFGHAN Visa' module for six categories of visa. However, highly-placed sources told ET that preference would be given to health visas on a case-to-case basis. The newly updated portal lists categories including student, business, medical, medical attendant, entry and UN diplomat visas. Applicants are required to upload a recent front-facing photograph along with the passport and national ID card that must contain personal details such as name, date of birth, nationality and expiry date. The move follows growing diplomatic engagement between India and the Taliban regime. Last month, external affairs minister S Jaishankar spoke on phone with Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, thanking him for condemning a "terrorist attack" in Kashmir. Taliban is keen to utilise both the INSTC as well as Chabahar Port for global trade and thereby reduce dependence on Pakistani ports. India-Afghanistan-Iran had earlier agreed to a trilateral pact for the Chabahar Port. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote Undo New Delhi: Amid warming up of ties with Taliban, India has relaunched visa services for Afghan nationals. Visas will be issued primarily for people with ailments on a case-to-case basis. A notification on the government's official visa portal, launched the 'New AFGHAN Visa' module for six categories of visa. However, highly-placed sources told ET that preference would be given to health visas on a case-to-case basis. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) The newly updated portal lists categories including student, business, medical, medical attendant, entry and UN diplomat visas. Applicants are required to upload a recent front-facing photograph along with the passport and national ID card that must contain personal details such as name, date of birth, nationality and expiry date. Live Events The move follows growing diplomatic engagement between India and the Taliban regime. Last month, external affairs minister S Jaishankar spoke on phone with Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, thanking him for condemning a "terrorist attack" in Kashmir. Taliban is keen to utilise both the INSTC as well as Chabahar Port for global trade and thereby reduce dependence on Pakistani ports. India-Afghanistan-Iran had earlier agreed to a trilateral pact for the Chabahar Port.
The Print
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Print
India resumes visa services for Afghans after 4-yr hiatus amid cautious renewal of diplomatic ties
The updated portal lists categories including student, business, medical, medical attendant, entry, and UN diplomat visas. Entry visas are now available to artists, cultural professionals, academics, and others invited to participate in cultural events hosted by recognised Indian institutions. While no official public announcement has been made, a notification posted on the official visa portal— the rollout of a 'New AFGHAN Visa' module in late April. New Delhi: In a significant policy shift, India has resumed granting visas to Afghan citizens across multiple categories, nearly four years after suspending all visa services following the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan. Also eligible under this category are children from previous marriages of Afghan nationals married to Indian citizens or Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders, Afghan nationals who own property in India, dependent parents of Afghan students enrolled in Indian educational institutions and parents of students under the age of 18. The business visa category has been broadened to include Afghan investors, entrepreneurs, and individuals intending to establish industrial or business ventures in India. Sportspersons and coaches with contracts for participation in commercial sports events in India are also eligible. The category also facilitates frequent long-term business visits. India had suspended all visa services to Afghans in August 2021 following the Taliban's takeover of Kabul and the withdrawal of US-led forces. In response to the deteriorating security situation, Indian embassies and consulates were shut down in Afghanistan. At the time, India introduced an e-Emergency X-Miscellaneous visa which was primarily reserved for members of Afghanistan's Hindu and Sikh minorities. Also Read: A look at India's evolving engagement with Taliban over the years Re-engagement with Taliban The reopening of visa channels aligns with India's cautious diplomatic outreach to the Taliban administration. On 15 May, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a phone conversation with Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, marking the first ministerial-level contact between the two sides since the Taliban's return to power. This followed an earlier meeting on 27 April in Kabul between senior Indian diplomat Anand Prakash and Muttaqi, where they discussed political and trade issues as well as regional developments. Afghan media reported that the Taliban expressed interest in enhancing investment ties with India and requested support for Afghan students and medical patients seeking to travel to India. On his part, Prakash reiterated India's commitment to development cooperation and expressed optimism about expanding bilateral ties across various sectors. He also conveyed India's readiness to revive stalled infrastructure projects, many of which were halted following the administration change in Afghanistan. During recent diplomatic talks, Muttaqi expressed the Taliban government's interest in deepening diplomatic and economic relations with India. Muttaqi highlighted Afghanistan's 'investment-friendly environment' and encouraged Indian businesses to explore emerging economic opportunities in the country, according to a statement by the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: Taliban rejects US peace deal 5 yrs after Kabul's fall. What this means for Afghan citizens, neighbours
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Business Standard
25-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
India resumes issuing visas to Afghan nationals after 5-year freeze
India has resumed granting visas to Afghan citizens across multiple categories, including business, medical, and entry visas for artists and relatives, five years after suspending all visa services following the Taliban's takeover in Kabul. A notification on the government's official visa portal, confirmed the rollout of the 'New AFGHAN Visa' module last month. While the Indian government has not formally announced this policy shift, a report in The Hindu said the module went live in the last week of April - step towards resuming bilateral engagement with Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Who are being granted visas? The newly updated portal lists categories including student, business, medical, medical attendant, entry, and UN diplomat visas. Applicants are required to upload a recent front-facing photograph, along with the passport and national ID card (Tazkira), which must contain personal details such as name, date of birth, nationality, and expiry date. Entry visas are also being issued to artists, cultural personalities, academicians, and professionals invited to participate in cultural events or activities sponsored by recognised Indian institutions. Children from previous marriages of Afghan nationals married to Indian citizens or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders are also eligible. Afghans who own property in India, dependent parents of students visiting India for higher education, and parents of students below 18 years can also apply under the entry visa category. Business visas for investors and sportspersons The business visa category has been expanded to include sportspersons and coaches engaged in commercial sports events in India on paid contracts. This category also covers investors and Afghan nationals planning to establish industrial or business ventures in India, as well as those required to undertake frequent, long-term business activities. India suspended visa services for Afghan nationals in August 2021 after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces. With the Taliban's return to power, India shut down its embassies and consulates in the country due to security concerns and uncertainty over the legitimacy of the new regime. At the time, India introduced the limited 'e-Emergency X-Miscellaneous visa' for stranded Afghans, primarily focusing on Hindus the minority and Sikhs. New Delhi's engagements with the Taliban The resumption of visa services coincides with India's efforts to engage with the Taliban regime through diplomatic channels. In a recent statement to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), India reiterated its close monitoring of the situation in Afghanistan and ongoing talks with Taliban officials, focusing on issues such as security, student visas, and humanitarian access.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Afghans can apply for Indian visas again, including investors, artists, sportspersons
India has resumed granting several categories of visas to citizens of Afghanistan, including to business people and artists, according to a notification on a government website. This comes five years after India suspended all visa services to Afghans and shut down its embassies and consulates following a regime change in the neighbouring country. The Indian government has not made any official announcement on the resumption of visa services for Afghan citizens. However, a government source told The Hindu that a new online visa module for Afghans was rolled out in the last week of April. 'Afghans are getting visas for trade, medical [purposes], and other categories,' the government source said. Also Read: Caught between the Taliban's restrictions and India's no-visa 'policy', Indian citizen in Herat longs for freedom to return Portal for application According to a portal for 'New AFGHAN Visa' has been added to the website where 'Afghan nationals may apply for online visa.' The categories of visas that have been listed on the portal are 'student, business, medical, medical attendant, entry, and U.N. diplomat.' The guidelines say that the applicant must upload 'a recent front facing photograph with white background and photo/bio page of Passport and National Identity Card (Tazkira) containing personal details such as name, date of birth, nationality, expiry date etc.' Entry visa for artists, relatives Artists, cultural personalities, academicians, and professionals intending to visit India to participate in cultural events or activities sponsored by reputed institutions for short duration without remuneration may apply for 'entry visa', the portal said. 'Children from previous marriages of an Afghan national who is presently married to an Indian Citizen/Person of Indian Origin/OCI cardholder' may also apply under this category. Afghans who own property in India, dependent parents of a student visiting India for higher education, and parents of a student below the age of 18 may also apply for entry visas, the portal said. Business visa for investors, sportspeople Under the 'business' category, sportspersons and coaches — including those engaged in commercial sports events in India, on contracts with remuneration — may apply. The portal added that the category would be open to Afghans coming to establish an industrial or business venture and to those required to travel frequently on long-term business activities, as well as for investors and their dependents. India had suspended all kinds of visas after the Taliban took over the government of Afghanistan in August 2021. On August 17 of that year, an 'e-Emergency X-Miscellaneous visa' was announced for stranded Afghan citizens, but most such visas were only granted to those from the Hindu and Sikh communities. Outreach to the Taliban On May 15, in India's first Minister-level outreach to the Taliban administration in Kabul, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a telephone conversation with Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. That conversation came days after the Taliban administration, which India has yet to officially recognise, condemned the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed. On April 27, senior Indian diplomat Anand Prakash met Mr. Muttaqi in Kabul and discussed political, trade, and transit issues as well as the latest regional political developments, according to Afghanistan-based Tolo News. The Acting Foreign Minister also said that favourable investment opportunities are currently available across various sectors in Afghanistan, the news outlet added. (With inputs from Kallol Bhattacherjee)
