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Afghan passport ranked the world’s least powerful
Japan has the world’s most powerful passport as its citizens can travel to 191 countries around the world visa-free or visa on arrival.
The Henley Passport Index, which measures the world’s most travel-friendly passports from time to time based on data received from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA), has released its report for 2021.
According to the report, Singaporean passports with free-visa access to 190 territories remained in second place, and South Korea and Germany with access to 189 destinations also remained in third place.
Meanwhile, Afghan citizens have visa-free or visa on arrival access to 26 countries only, ranking 110th place or the world’s least powerful passport.
Afghan citizens can travel to the following countries and territories visa-free:
Cape Verde Islands, Comores Islands, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Somalia, Togo, Uganda, Cook Islands, Micronesia, Niue, Palau Islands, Samoa, Tuvalu, Dominica, Haiti, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Macao (SAR China), Maldives, and Timor-Leste.
Top ten powerful passports in 2021:
- Japan – 191 destinations
- Singapore – 190 destinations
- South Korea, Germany – 189 destinations
- Italy, Finland, Spain, Luxembourg – 188 destinations
- Denmark, Austria – 187 destinations
- Sweden, France, Portugal, Netherlands, Ireland – 186 destinations
- Switzerland, United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Belgium, and New Zealand – 185 destinations
- Greece, Malta, Czech Republic, Australia – 184 destinations
- Canada – 183 destinations
- Hungary – 181 destinations
Ten least powerful passports to hold in 2021:
- Iran and Bangladesh – 41 destinations
- Lebanon, Kosovo, and Sudan – 40 destinations
- North Korea – 39 destinations
- Libya, Nepal – 38 destinations
- Palestinian territories – 37 destinations
- Somalia, Yemen – 33 destinations
- Pakistan – 32 destinations
- Syria – 29 destinations
- Iraq – 28 destinations
- Afghanistan – 26 destinations
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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