India introduces new category of visa to fast track Afghan applications
Darpan News Desk IANS, 17 Aug, 2021 12:02 PM
New Delhi, Aug 17 (IANS) In view of the prevailing critical condition in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday announced a new category of electronic visas to fast-track applications of Afghans who are willing to come to India.
"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," the Ministry spokesperson tweeted.
Under this category of visa, the applications of Afghans will be processed quickly so that they can come to India as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, reviewing the deteriorating condition in the war-torn country, the Central government has asked the Indian Ambassador and the remaining staff to return.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said that India is closely monitoring the situation in Afghanistan after Kabul fell to the Taliban on Sunday.
"Monitoring the situation in Kabul continuously. Understand the anxiety of those seeking to return to India. Airport operations are the main challenge. Discussions with partners in that regard," Jaishankar said in a tweet on Tuesday.
He also informed that an Afghanistan cell has been created in the External Affairs Ministry for the constant monitoring of the situation.
"We are in constant touch with the Hindu and Sikh community leaders in Kabul. Their welfare will get our priority attention," the Minister tweeted further.
"The government has been closely monitoring the evolving situation in Afghanistan and for evacuation of Indian as well as diplomatic staffs, all contingency plans are already in place and all steps are being taken to ensure safety of the Indian Embassy in Kabul and Indian nationals are not at any risk," a source said.
Apart from spending time with family in Chandigarh on the occasion of Diwali, actor Ayushmann Khurrana and his wife Tahira Kashyap are planning to bring joy in the lives of women ragpickers this festive season.
Industrialist Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita hosted a grand Diwali party here, with celebrities such as Hazel Keech, Sagarika Ghatge, Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh adding more glamour to the glitzy affair.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) on Friday sealed the deal for government formation in Haryana, with the latter's Dushyant Chautala as the Deputy Chief Minister.
As Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary approaches, soak in the essentials of what he preached; gain knowledge from the CEO of one of the world's leading investment firms whose views are sought by heads of state
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau for his re-election but his returning to power is unlikely to augur well for the relations between the two countries.
The United States on Thursday sought from India a "roadmap" to political and economic normalcy in Kashmir and immediate release of all political detainees as it asked Pakistan to take "sustained and irreversible" steps against militants and terrorists in its territory.
