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Kabul suspends consular services at Afghan missions in 14 Western countries
The statement cited corruption, lack of transparency and non-coordination with the ministry as reasons for the closure.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has declared the consular services of Afghan missions in 14 Western countries to be invalid.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said in a statement that the suspension of services at these missions was effective July 30,2024.
The countries concerned are the United States, United Kingdom, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy, Greece, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Canada, Australia, and two in Germany, in the cities of Bonn and Berlin.
The statement cited corruption, lack of transparency and non-coordination with the ministry as reasons for the closure.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this affects the issuance of deeds, endorsements, NOCs, passports, passport extensions and visas, among others.
The ministry said all passport extensions issued after the announcement will be invalid. However, visas issued prior to the announcement, which have been used to travel to Afghanistan or a third country and have entry/exit stamps prior to July 30, are deemed valid.
In addition, visas issued after July 30 are also invalid.
Travelers with visas issued by the missions in the 14 affected countries and who are currently in Afghanistan may remain in the country for the duration of their visa.
However, once they have left the country, they will not be able to return to Afghanistan on the same visa.
Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met on Tuesday with Qatar’s ambassador to Kabul, Mirdif Al-Qashouti, to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and expanding Afghanistan’s engagement with the international community.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the meeting focused on Qatar’s efforts to facilitate the Islamic Emirate’s engagement with the international community.
Muttaqi welcomed the growing engagement between Afghanistan and the international community and praised Qatar’s role in supporting these efforts.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s ambassador reaffirmed Doha’s commitment to continuing its efforts and described the progress made so far as encouraging.
Alireza Bikdeli, Iran’s ambassador to Kabul, met on Tuesday with officials of the Afghanistan Chamber of Industries and Mines to discuss expanding economic relations, joint investment, and strengthening cooperation in the industrial and mining sectors.
During the meeting, Khan Mohammad Khan, deputy for industry at the Afghanistan Chamber of Industries and Mines, highlighted the existing opportunities in Afghanistan’s industrial and mining sectors and called on Iranian investors to make practical investments in these areas.
He said that with suitable opportunities available for industrial growth and the processing of raw minerals in Afghanistan, greater prospects exist for economic cooperation and joint investment with regional countries, particularly Iran.
Meanwhile, Bikdeli said that Iranian investors are showing growing interest in operating in various economic and production sectors in Afghanistan. He also emphasized Iran’s willingness to expand economic relations and bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
At the end of the meeting, he invited officials of the Afghanistan Chamber of Industries and Mines to participate in a mining exhibition scheduled to be held in Iran.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Information and Culture says BBC radio broadcasts across the country have been suspended due to what it described as “repeated violations.”
Safiullah Raed, head of media monitoring at the ministry, confirmed the suspension, without providing further details.
The BBC has also confirmed that its radio broadcasts have been suspended across Afghanistan. A spokesperson for the broadcaster said it was in contact with officials of the Islamic Emirate to resolve the issue.
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