ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan embassy in Kabul has said it is only issuing health and family emergency visas to Afghan nationals currently due to the constraints imposed by coronavirus standard operating procedures. 

“The Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul is concerned at the reports of Afghan nationals getting injured as a result of large number of applicants in the streets outside the Embassy,” the embassy said in a statement. “We sincerely sympathize with the people facing these difficulties.”

It added: “Due to the prevailing health situation resulting from COVID-19 pandemic, the Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul and Pakistan’s consulates in Afghanistan are presently issuing visas to Afghan nationals primarily on the grounds of health and family emergencies. The Embassy and Consulates are now working with the relevant authorities in Pakistan to institute visa facilitation procedures for full implementation of the new Visa Policy approved by the Cabinet recently.”

The embassy appreciated the support of Afghan authorities in managing security arrangements for a large number of visa applicants and said it was looking forward to the continued assistance of Afghan police and security authorities in ensuring smooth visa arrangements.

Last month, Pakistan approved a new visa policy for Afghan citizens, including students and businessmen, as well as a new health visa.

“Cabinet has approved new Visa Policy for Afghan citizens,” prime minister Imran Khan’s special representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, said in a tweet. “Acquiring visas will be easy for Afghan visitors with multiple entry visit visas and long term business, investment and student visas. A new category of health visa is also introduced which will be issued on border.”