Afghanistan crisis: e-Emergency X-Misc Visa to fast-track entry to India

The announcement came two days after the Taliban captured power in Afghanistan

The government Monday announced a new category of visa – e-Emergency X-Misc Visa – to fast-track applications from Afghans who wish to leave Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

The decision was taken after the Ministry of Home Affairs reviewed the current situation in Afghanistan where thousands are desperate to flee the country where the Taliban militia overran the government and took charge of Kabul.

“A new category of electronic visa called ‘e-Emergency X-Misc Visa’ introduced to fast-track visa applications for entry into India,” a Union Home Ministry spokesperson said on Twitter.

Track latest updates from Afghanistan here

India has supported and built numerous development projects – highways, power transmission lines, dams and institutional buildings – as part of the aid package in Afghanistan.

The government is also keen to facilitate repatriation to India of those who wish to leave Afghanistan with Hindus and Sikhs given priority.

Earlier on Monday, India brought back its Ambassador to Afghanistan Rudrendra Tandon and 128 others on a special IAF evacuation flight from Kabul.

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief Manjinder Singh Sirsa claimed that at least 320 persons of Sikh and Hindu communities were present at a Gurdwara in Kabul and have not been able to get in touch with the officials from the Indian embassy.

Besides, he said there were 22 persons at the Kabul airport who needed to be shifted to a safer place till arrangements were made for their evacuation.

Of the 320 people in the Kabul Gurdwara, Sirsa claimed that some of them were locals, while others had travelled from places as far as Ghazni and Jalalabad.

Sirsa appealed to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to ensure their safety.