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Pakistan Bans Entry To Afghans Holding Visas For India by Zarmina Mohammadi in Tolo News, Aug 30, 2016

In a recent policy shift, India’s traditional rival Pakistan has slapped new sanctions on Afghan nationals who have an Indian visa in their passports.

On Tuesday, director of Hamid Karzai International Airport, Jabbarkhail said that over the past few days Pakistan has deported or banned entry to at least ten Afghans after finding Indian visas in their passports.

In response to the move by Pakistan, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has said the decision is unacceptable and that Afghanistan has resumed negotiations with Islamabad to resolve the issue.

“It is a disputed issue, the ministry of foreign affairs conducts discussions with Pakistan officials to resolve the problems of our citizens,” said MoFA spokesman Ahmad Shekib Mustaghni.

TOLOnews has however received a number of documents which indicate that Pakistan International Airline (PIA) has put embargoes on Afghan citizens who have travelled to India.

“Airline companies are still informing the passengers that they can not take them to Pakistan if there is an Indian visa in their passport,” said Mohammad Asif Jabbarkhail.

The new move by Pakistan has had an impact on airlines and travel companies.

“The Pakistan banning of Afghan nationals is a concerning issue, the government must tackle the problem swiftly,” said Massoud Bina, deputy of Tourism Union.

Muzghan Sulaimankhail is one Afghan who was denied entry into Pakistan because of an Indian visa in her passport.

“I went for medical treatment to Pakistan; when I arrived at the airport officials told me that they can not allow me to enter Pakistan because of the existence of an Indian visa in my passport,” said Muzghan.

But, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has pledged to raise the issue with the Pakistani government.

Amid speculation over Pakistan’s move, a number of Afghan citizens have accused government of not raising the issue with Pakistan.

“Government should defend its citizens and should not allow Pakistan to create problems for Afghan citizens because of their issues with India,” said Abdullah Ahmadi, a resident of Kabul.

“Government must take steps and resolve the problems,” said another resident Mohammad Fayaz.

Despite a dramatic thaw in relations between Islamabad and New Delhi last year, the two countries are once again embroiled in a war of words over the recent wave of violence in Indian controlled Kashmir region.http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/27014-pakistan-bans-entry-to-afghans-holding-visas-for-india

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