India, Afghanistan resolve visa hurdles for business, medical travel

Afghanistan's Commerce Minister Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi announced that visa hurdles with India have been resolved. Afghan nationals can now obtain Indian visas for business and medical purposes, with embassies in Kabul and Delhi facilitating the process.

Afghanistan's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi, on Sunday announced that long-standing visa hurdles between India and Afghanistan have been resolved, allowing Afghan citizens to obtain Indian visas for both medical treatment and business purposes. Adressing a press conference following his five-day offical visit to the country, the Afghan Minister added that the Afghan Embassy will play a key role in facilitating these services. At the same time, the Embassy of India in Kabul will also develop programs to support Afghan nationals.

Visa Services Resumed for Business and Medical Travel

"The most important issue that has arisen in the past few years is the visa issue. The visa issue, which is for business purposes, has been resolved for both nations... If any of our private sector members want to obtain a visa, the Embassy of India in Kabul will accept them. They can also obtain visas from there," he said.

"For medical purposes, too, it has been decided that the visa services will be resumed. We will try to ensure that our patients come to India for treatment and receive treatment here. Our embassy will play a major role in the facilities here, and the Embassy of India in Kabul will also develop programs for this," the Afghan Minister added.

India earlier invalidated all visas for Afghan nationals after the Taliban takeover in the country back in August 2021, after the US and allied troops withdrew from the country after almost 20 years.

Banking and Trade Cooperation to be Bolstered

Azizi also highlighted improvements in banking and trade cooperation, saying minor technical issues between India and Afghanistan would be resolved. "There are some minor issues in the banking sector. Our banks, both private and the main bank in Afghanistan, are operating transparently and efficiently for trade and business. We also maintain good relations with Central Asian countries and other banking sectors. The minor issues between India and Afghanistan will be resolved technically. Our concern was to provide more facilities in the banking sector, and it was decided from both sides that the issues should be resolved," the minister said.

Strengthening Bilateral Commercial Mechanisms

The two sides also agreed to strengthen the existing Joint Chamber of Commerce, expand its scope, and hold regular quarterly coordination meetings, initially online and later alternately in Kabul and New Delhi. He also confirmed that Afghanistan's commercial attache will be stationed in India, and that India's commercial attache will be stationed in Afghanistan, aiming to resolve any private-sector-related issues through commercial assistance.

(ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)