ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has announced special visa relaxations for journalists and their families stuck in Afghanistan amid the Taliban advancement across the war-torn country.
In a tweet, Islamabad’s Ambassador to Kabul, Mansoor Ahmed Khan, directed people who fit the criterion to contact the press counsellor of the Pakistan embassy and “they will be facilitated”.
We are specially facilitating visas for Afghan journalists & families in this period of uncertainty. Media people needing visas may contact Press Counsellor at WhatsApp 00923222807683 and they will be facilitated. @SMQureshiPTI @fawadchaudhry @TOLOnews @Bbcpushto @DaRadioAzadi
— Mansoor Ahmad Khan (@ambmansoorkhan) August 15, 2021
The measure has been taken to assist the members of the media fraternity in “this period of uncertainty”, Khan said.
Taliban insurgents entered the Afghanistan capital Kabul “from all sides” on Sunday, an interior ministry official said. Earlier, the group captured the eastern city of Jalalabad without a fight, giving them control of one of the main highways into landlocked Afghanistan.
They also took over the nearby Torkham border post with Pakistan, leaving Kabul airport the only way out of Afghanistan that is still in government hands.
Earlier on Friday, Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed announced special visa relaxations for foreign journalists and media workers stuck in Afghanistan.
“International journalists and media workers who want to leave Afghanistan via Pakistan are urged to apply for a Pakistani visa,” he said.
Ahmed said his ministry will issue visas to these international journalists and workers “on a priority basis”.
