Afghanistan Crisis: India announces new category of E-visa to pace up entry requests

Amid the Afghanistan crisis, MHA announces an electronic Emergency X-Misc Visa to fast track process and decided to move back Indian officials and ambassador to Kabul

New Delhi- MHA or Ministry of Home Affairs has introduced a new category of electronic visa called Emergency X-Misc Visa to fast track entry applications of Afghan refugees on Tuesday.

Visuals of people desperate to leave Afghanistan after the Taliban occupation went viral on social media. People have climbed the wing and lost their life immediately after the flight took off.

In a statement, the official spokesperson has said, “MHA 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.”

Meanwhile, the government has decided to move back the Indian ambassador in Kabul along with other Indian officials. Arindam Bagchi, official spokesperson for MEA has said, “In view of the prevailing circumstances, it has been decided that our Ambassador in Kabul and his Indian staff will move to India immediately.”

The Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also tweeted a designated helpline number for Afghans.

UN on Afghanistan and Afghan Refugees

UN Security Council (UNSC) met for the second time in 10 days to analyze the dramatic change of events in Afghanistan under the presidency of India. According to Hindustan Times, both permanent and non-permanent members of the council have said that the Taliban should not use Afghan soil for terrorism.

Taliban must ensure that terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and Islamic State should not use the country for attacks and training, all the member nations echoed. However, both Russia and China were keen on engaging with the Taliban. Russian envoy to UNSC said that Iran is an important regional player, which can work with the external troika including Pakistan.

The extended troika group includes the US, China, Iran, and Pakistan.

Chinese deputy permanent representative Geng Shuang said that some members desired a greater role to be played by Afghanistan’s neighbors. Referring to Pakistan, Shuang said that some regional countries and Afghanistan’s neighbors have requested to participate in the meeting. But, regrettably, permissions were not granted to them.  

The members of the body turned down Pakistan’s efforts to join both the meetings. Geng hoped the Taliban will establish an inclusive political structure for peace by uniting with all parties and ethnic groups.

In the meeting, both Russia and China cautioned the terror attack threats to their respective countries but did not mention the terror threats posed by India.

Indian Refugee Policy And Afghan Refugees

India does not have a refugee policy to protect refugees as India did not sign the 1951 Refugee Conventions and its Protocols. The refugees are called foreign nationals. According to Boom Live, they are governed by the provisions entitled under the Foreign Act 1946, the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, the Passport (Entry to India) Act 1920, and the Citizenship Act, 1955. In the Parliament debate, Minister of State (Home) Nityanand Rai has said that foreign nationals who entered the country without valid documents will be treated as illegal immigrants.

However, India does not maintain any data on refugees. According to the UN, India has around 2.44 lakhs refugees and asylum seekers. In the first phase of the attack, India has housed more than thousands of refugees from Afghanistan.