E-visas mandatory for Afghan nationals coming to India: Gov
planning had been ongoing and we are prepared for it. Yes, the timelines certainly surprised us. We were anticipating this thing happening maybe a couple of months down the line,” he added.
Gen Rawat said the Taliban has not changed in the last 20 years and only its partners have changed. “It is pretty much the same; it is the same Taliban that was there 20 years ago. News reports and reports from the expats who have come from there are all telling us the kind of activities the Taliban is into. All that has happened is that the partners have now changed. It is the same Taliban with different partners,” Gen Rawat observed.
In his remarks, Admiral Aquilino referred to challenges that India has been facing, specifically with regard to “sovereignty on the Line of Actual Control” as well as the “foundational security concerns” in the South China Sea region, in a clear reference to China’s aggressive behaviour.
His comments came in the backdrop of mounting concerns over the possibility of rise in activities of various terror groups including the Lashkar-etoiba and Jaish-e-mohammed from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
The Centre on Wednesday said all Afghan nationals must travel to India only on an e-visa owing to the evolving security situation in Afghanistan.
The government said that the introduction of the e-emergency X-misc visa has streamlined the application process, thus it has been decided to make the e-visa mandatory for all Afghan nationals coming to India.
Previously issued visas to all Afghan nationals, not presently in India, stand invalid with immediate effect, the government declared. It added that the decision was taken keeping in view reports that surfaced, indicating that certain passports of Afghan nationals have been misplaced.
For Afghan nationals who wish to travel to India, an official release issued by the ministry of external affairs pointed to the authorised visa applica(mha) tion portal of the Indian government.
“Afghan nationals wishing to travel to India may apply for e-visa at www.indianvisaonline.gov.in,” the government release stated.
India introduced the new category of e-visa earlier this month for Afghan nationals to streamline and fast-track the application process for their entry into India.
“MHA reviews visa provisions in view of the current situation in Afghanistan,” the Union ministry of home affairs said in a statement month, adding, that “a new egory of electronic visa ca ‘e-emergency X-misc V introduced to fast-track applications for entry India.”
Foreign nationals appl for a visa on a purpose th not specifically covered un any other existing visa cate may be granted the ‘X-M visa for an appropriate d tion, according to the h ministry’s visa policy.
“Such a visa may be gra only with a single entry an the specific duration, ta into account the purpos visit,” the Ministry of H Affairs policy document on X-misc visa reads.
“If the visa is granted f period of stay exceeding days, the foreigner will hav register himself/ herself the FRRO/ FRO concer within 14 days of arrival. visa will be non-extendable non-convertible to any o type of visa,” the docum states.