Don't have information on e-visas to Afghans: MHA

More than two months after India announced emergency electronic visas for Afghan nationals, in the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in reply to a query filed by ET under the Right to Information Act that it does not have the information regarding the number of e-visas issued to Afghan nationals.

The emergency visas were introduced on August 17, two days after the Taliban captured power in Kabul, to fast-track applications from Afghans for their entry into India.

The e-visa was to be valid for six months and all Afghans, irrespective of their religion, were eligible.


The request was to be processed in Delhi, after vetting by Indian security agencies such as Research and Analysis Wing, and Intelligence Bureau.

In reply to a question regarding the number of visas granted to Afghan nationals from August 18 onwards, the Central Public Information Authority (CPIO) at the home ministry, Pramod Kumar, wrote that the "information is not available" with the Foreigners Division at the ministry.

The reply did not provide any details regarding the number of e-visa requests made by Afghans to Indian authorities. Similarly, there was no information available on the numbers of visas issued to Afghan nationals from June 15 till August 15.