Afghanistan COI Repository

Pajhwok Afghan News, 86 fake Pakistani, Afghan passports seized in raid, 10 November 2022

“KABUL (Pajhwok): Security forces have detained two persons with 86 forged copies of passports […]”

 

Assessment Capacities Project (ACAPS), Afghanistan: Risk Overview, 7 November 2022

to reducing protection risks, ensuring access to income-generating opportunities, and securing assets. Access to civil

documentation is indistinguishably linked to housing, land, and property (HLP) rights, contingent on a person’s ability to prove their identity and family lineage. A lack of civil documentation severely limits opportunities and further compounds the challenges that IDPs and returnees face in exercising their HLP rights. The inability to issue travel- related documents (as the current stock of blank passport books has run out) makes it extremely difficult for people to leave the country. The inability to print more e-Tazkera cards will also end its issuance. As the e-Tazkera is the most important identification document in Afghanistan, the suspension of issuance would likely create difficulties for people seeking services in the country.”

 

Gandhara, Gandhara Briefing: The Taliban's War With IS-K; A Pakistani Women-Only Park Closes; Afghans Deported From Tajikistan, 26 August 2022

“Passports And Taliban Bribes Radio Azadi reports on the complaints by Afghans of the hurdles they face in getting a passport from the Taliban government. Issuing identity documents is a significant revenue stream for the militants. "We don't have any money and do not know any Taliban officials," said Shakila, who has been trying to get a passport for her family members since the Taliban takeover a year ago. "We have been knocking on the doors of the passport office every day." A Kabul resident says he has been trying to get a passport for a sick relative so he can travel outside the country for treatment. But he has been waiting for more than one month. "Only people who have $1,000 or

$1,500 [to pay in bribes] can get passports," he said. "The rest of us just queue up with no luck."”

 

Committee to Protect Journalists, Taliban intelligence agents detain American filmmaker Ivor Shearer, Afghan producer Faizullah Faizbakhsh in Kabul, 19 August 2022

“On August 17, Shearer and Faizbakhsh were filming in the Sherpur area of District 10 in Kabul–where a U.S. drone strike killed Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri earlier in August–when several security guards stopped them, according to a report by U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster Voice of America-Dari and two journalists familiar with the case, who spoke to CPJ on the condition of anonymity, citing fear of the Taliban’s reprisal. The guards questioned them about their activities and checked their work permits, ID cards, and passports; they then

confiscated the journalists’ cellphones, detained them for a couple of hours, and repeatedly called them

“American spies,” according to the journalists familiar with the case… “The Taliban’s increasing pressure and escalating numbers of detentions of journalists and media workers, including the detention of American filmmaker Ivor Shearer and his Afghan colleague Faizullah Faizbakhsh, show the group’s utter lack of commitment to the principle of freedom of the press in Afghanistan,” said CPJ Program Director Carlos Martinez de la Serna.”

 

The New Humanitarian, One year on, few options for Afghans escaping hunger and Taliban persecution, 10 August 2022

“Due to an overwhelming demand for passports and a lack of government staff, passport offices in Afghanistan are often closed. Many people opt to sell their property and assets to purchase travel documents for roughly $9,000 on the black market, according to information compiled by Samuel Hall, an independent think tank conducting

research on migration in Afghanistan, and shared with The New Humanitarian.”

 

Al Jazeera, “Afghans in US immigration limbo watch Ukrainians breeze through”, 20 July 2022

“[…] USCIS received more than 46,000 properly submitted parole applications from Afghans between July 1, 2021, and June 2, 2022, of which the vast majority remain unadjudicated. Only 297 Afghans were approved during that time.”

 

European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) COI Portal, Afghanistan / Passports, citizenship certificate, getting documents legalised, situation in July 2022, 7 July 2022 [original is in Finnish, the excerpts below have been translated by an Asylos volunteer]

"1. Are passports currently being issued in Afghanistan? Are there limitations in obtaining them?

1. Are passports currently being issued in Afghan Embassies in the neighboring countries of Afghanistan or Finland

   

   “Possessing documentation (including birth certificates, driver’s licences, and land ownership documents) is critical

    

   (eg Sweden, Iran, India and Pakistan)?

2. Are the above-mentioned Embassies issuing nationality certificates?

3. Is it possible to get documents legalized in the above-mentioned embassies?"

 

1. Are passports currently issued in Afghanistan? Are there any restrictions on obtaining passports?

   " Norwegian land information service Landinfo in June 2022, the administration installed by the Taliban movement continues to issue passports. Since the rise of the Taliban, passport offices have been closed for shorter and longer periods due to various reasons, such as technical problems and the security situation. A large number of Afghans have sought to apply for a new passport, which has resulted in overburdened passport offices and long waiting times to obtain a passport. Landinfo is not aware that the possibility of some population groups to apply for a passport would be restricted. However, the Taliban has restricted women's freedom of movement, which may reduce women's ability to apply for a passport. It is also still possible to obtain an Afghan ID card, the tazkera , in Afghanistan. Paper tazkera is primarily used , but in big cities, so-called e- tazkera are also issued . However, there are technical challenges especially in issuing e -tazkeros and their waiting times can be long. It is said that the authorities of the regime installed by the Taliban are still issuing passports in the names and symbols of the previous regime. " (Translated)

2. Are passports currently issued at the embassies in the neighboring regions of Afghanistan or Finland (especially Sweden, Iran, India and Pakistan)?

   " Afghan embassies have been in a state of confusion since the Taliban came to power, and based on available public sources, it is not possible to get a clear picture of whether it is possible to obtain a passport from Afghan embassies abroad at the moment." (Translated)

   " Foreign According to the policy, Afghan embassies in Canada, Great Britain, Australia and Norway, among others, are still open, and Afghans staying in the United States are directed to do business at the Canadian embassy in Ottawa. The Indian embassy in Delhi and consulates in Hyderabad and Mumbai are also operational. According to the embassy's website, the embassy in Stockholm is also still in operation." (Translated)

   "According to the website of the Afghan embassy in Oslo, issuing new passports is currently not possible at the embassy, but the validity of previously issued passports can be extended. Also, according to the website of the Afghan Embassy in Stockholm, you cannot apply for a new passport or tazkera from the embassy, but the validity of previously issued machine-readable passports can be extended. Afghans who have had a tazkera application pending at the Afghan Population Registration Authority before the change of power can inquire about the status of their application through the embassy. No new information was found from the available sources about obtaining passports from the Afghan embassies in Iran and Pakistan." (Translated)

3. Is it possible to get a certificate from these embassies that a person is or is not an Afghan citizen?

   " From the currently available sources, no information was found that specifically such a certificate would be possible to obtain from the relevant Afghan missions." (Translated)

4. Can the documents be legalized at the respective embassies?

" According to the list on the website of the Afghan Embassy in Stockholm, legalization of documents is possible at the embassy on the spot. Regarding other missions, no information was found specifically about the legalization of documents." (Translated)”

 

Pajhwok Afghan News (Afghan News Agency), Pakistan OKs new visa regime for Afghans, 29 June 2022 “Pakistan’s federal cabinet has approved a new visa regime for Afghan citizens including traders and patients. The visa policy for Afghans was discussed on Tuesday at a meeting, which was attended by representatives from the Foreign Office, NADRA and Board of Investment.

Minister of Information Maryum Aurangzeb said Pakistan missions abroad would process visa applications of Afghans on the basis of existing passport and nationality.

Under the reviewed policy, Pakistan missions abroad will process visa applications of Afghans on the basis of their existing passports and nationality instead of their country of origin.

She told a news conference in Islamabad cabinet approved the inclusion of a sub-category in the work visa category for drivers, transporters and helpers to promote trade with Afghanistan.

A multi-entry visa for six months would be issued within 48 hours, while the Interior Ministry was authorised to extend the period to one year.

Documents required for obtaining a visa on arrival will include the applicant’s picture, passport, transport company

registration and employment letter. The entry visa page will need to be submitted for a visa extension.

The minister said the Afghans seeking visas in driver, transporter and helper categories were exempted from obtaining the BOI’s letter of recommendation and registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).

The initiative is aimed at ensuring the ease of doing business which would eventually boost the trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan."

 

The Norwegian Country of Origin Information Centre Land info, Country info response Afghanistan: the situation for Afghan women after Taliban takeover, 22 June 2022

"Women cannot travel alone. Already in December 2021 came the directive that women who travel longer than 72km. must be accompanied by a male family member (BBC News 2021). From different parts of the country it is reported that women have been denied health care because they did not has male companion (mahram). Women who visit health centers with the sick children, are rejected because they come unaccompanied (Nader & Amini 2022). Another measure that restricts women's freedom of movement is that they no longer receive it driver's license (Free Press Journal 2022). Furthermore, the Taliban has banned that women can fly without a male companion. The order for a companion applies to both domestic and international flights. The airlines were informed of the restrictions in a letter from the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Reuters 2022)."

 

Tolo News, Travelers Face Trouble at Spin Boldak, Chaman Crossings, 21 June 2022

“According to people interviewed by TOLOnews, residents who live near the Durand Line, particularly people living in nearby Qila Abdullah and Chaman, can cross with either with Kandahar-issued or Pakistani ID cards, while other Afghans with legal documents must wait several days. Bismillah, who is a resident of Ghazni, said that he has tried twice to cross into Pakistan but has not been allowed. “We were not allowed, we were told that we should have a passport or a sick visa in order to pass at the crossing," said Bismillah, a resident of Ghazni. "Yesterday I went three times to the crossing, they sent us back, there were women also with us, they mistreated us and also the women. They threw away our IDs,” Abdul Rahman Shah, a resident of Uruzgan, told TOLOnews. According to residents of Kandahar, sometimes even those residents of Kandahar who have ID cards and legal documents cannot cross.

Citizens asked the Islamic Emirate to solve the problem permanently. "This is the third time that we have gone, they send us back and do not accept our Kandahar ID cards and they are not allowing us through," said Khan Wali, a resident of Kandahar. Meanwhile, local officials in Kandahar said that they are trying to solve this problem through dialogue with Pakistani officials. "We have talked to the Pakistani officials about this problem so that all the people of Afghanistan can move freely so that there is no gap between them and their relatives," said Hafiz Esmatullah, an official.”

 

Ariana News, India grants priority e-visas to Afghan Sikhs, Hindus after Kabul attack, 19 June 2022

“India’s ministry of home affairs has moved to grant emergency e-visas to over 100 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus after Saturday’s attack on a gurdwara in Kart-e-Parwan in Kabul. Two people, one Sikh and one security force member, were killed in the attack. According to the Hindustan Times, the e-visas will facilitate the evacuation of Sikhs and Hindus from Afghanistan. Officials said India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) will likely investigate the incident. The NIA is already probing the March 25, 2020 attack on another gurdwara in Kabul, in which 27 Sikh devotees including an Indian national were killed. Indian officials said around 150 Hindus and Sikhs are living in Afghanistan currently. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned Saturday’s attack. He said: “Shocked by the cowardly terrorist attack against the Karte Parwan Gurudwara in Kabul. I condemn this barbaric attack and pray for the safety and well being of the devotees”.”

 

Gandhara, Gandhara Briefing: Pakistani Visas, Taliban Taxes, Afghan Bodybuilders, 17 June 2022

cost up to $1,000. The exorbitant prices line the pockets of corrupt Pakistani officials and their Afghan go-

betweens. There is no shortage of Afghans willing to do whatever it takes to flee Taliban persecution and the economic meltdown in their homeland. "People can get a monthlong visa by paying $300, a five-month visa for

$500, and $700 for a yearlong visa," said Farhad Salehi, a resident of Herat who has already spent $500 in bribes without success. Pakistani officials have clamped down on corruption and fired 12 embassy staff during the past three months. A senior embassy official told us that the employees were sacked after a "thorough investigation" that established that they were "minting money from Afghans." Islamabad has also unveiled a new visa policy, making it easier for Afghans seeking asylum in Western counties to transit through Pakistan.”

 

Gandhara, Afghans Say Black Market For Pakistani Visas Thriving, 14 June 2022

“Farhad Salehi, a resident of the western Herat Province, has been chasing a Pakistani visa for weeks. Like hundreds of thousands of his compatriots, he wants to escape the uncertainty brought on by the economic collapse that followed the Taliban's seizure of power last year. He first attempted official channels, applying directly to the Pakistani Embassy in the capital, Kabul. But after being denied a visa, he took a route often used by Afghans in a similar situation: the black market, where the business of providing permits to travel or live in the neighboring Muslim country is thriving.”

 

Khaama Press, About 5,000 Afghan citizens await German family reunification visas, 25 May 2022

"Afghan citizens must apply for family reunification visas through the German embassies in New Delhi and Islamabad after the German embassy visa office in Kabul closed in 2017.

The German government has said that in order to facilitate this process, visa offices have been directed to “make full use of their authority”. The time-consuming document evaluation will be suspended, and the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs will begin processing the applications, according to reports.

The difficulty of leaving family reunification visa applicants out of Afghanistan, particularly women who desire to travel alone, has been noted by the German government as a key impediment to the procedure.

The Taliban, on the other hand, will not let them leave Afghanistan without a passport, and obtaining one is a difficult and time-consuming process."

 

US DOS, 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Afghanistan, 12 April 2022

“In October [2021] the Taliban stated they would resume issuing passports, ending a months-long suspension that had diminished the limited ability of citizens to depart the country. According to local media, more than 170,000 passport applications received in August and September remained unadjudicated as of December 31. In December the Taliban announced that passport offices had opened in 25 provinces. Anecdotal reports suggested passports were not always issued impartially but rather reserved for individuals whom the Taliban deemed “unproblematic” or who could pay substantially higher prices for the passport. Some individuals associated with the previous administration reported being detained and beaten following their visit to passport offices. […] NGOs noted the lack of official birth registration for refugee children in the country as a significant problem and protection concern, due to the risk of statelessness and potential long-term disadvantage.”

 

Ariana News, IEA calls for investors, says visas for foreigners will recommence, 11 April 2022

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has called on national and international agencies to start interacting with

local traders and business owners and promised to start issuing visas to foreigners.

IEA officials said the ministry of mines and petroleum has been granted permission to secure contracts with domestic and foreign companies. Officials said at a economy-focused meeting Monday that a process is being put into place for visas to be issued to foreigners. According to officials, contracts have already been signed with companies for the extraction of iron ore in Herat province and for the extraction of lead in Ghor province.

An IEA official said government is also looking at ways to issue visas for business owners arriving at Kabul airport.”

 

Human Rights Watch, New Evidence that Biometric Data Systems Imperil Afghans, 30 March 2022

“Radio Mashaal and Radio Azadi report on the thriving black market for Pakistani visas in Afghanistan, which can

 

“The Taliban control systems holding sensitive biometric data that Western donor governments left behind in

Afghanistan in August 2021, putting thousands of Afghans at risk, Human Rights Watch said today.

These digital identity and payroll systems contain Afghans’ personal and biometric data, including iris scans, fingerprints, photographs, occupation, home addresses, and names of relatives. The Taliban could use them to target perceived opponents, and Human Rights Watch research suggests that they may have already used the data in some caseS [...] Aziz Rafiee, executive director of the Afghan Civil Society Forum, who is familiar with many of the systems and the risks posed, said, “The international community might have thought it was helping us, but instead it played with our fate and ended up creating systems more dangerous than they were helpful.” A person familiar with the development and management of one of the systems examined, who asked to remain anonymous, said that some people who had been working for the company that maintained the system were still in Afghanistan and at risk from the Taliban. He said the Taliban had detained two senior staff members to force the company to continue supporting and maintaining the system, something it refused to do [...] The six Afghan judges interviewed included four men and two women. Three of the six are in hiding in the country. Those interviewed said that the Supreme Court has a payroll system with extensive personal data on all judges and their families including their biometrics (fingerprints, iris scans, and photographs), current addresses, and their car’s model, color, and license plate number [...] All six judges thought that the Taliban was using the system to try to find or arrest them or others. A judge known for her work combatting domestic violence said that the first night the Taliban took control of her city, its members stormed her home after she had already fled. Taliban members then went to her mother’s home looking for her. “How did they have the details of my mother’s home?” she asked. “She doesn’t even live with my father. Those details were only in the Supreme Court system.” Other judges shared a screen shot of a post in early December on a Telegram group for Afghan judges about a judge in Bamiyan whom Taliban officials arrested at the local passport office after learning his occupation. The judge had been trying to renew his passport so he could leave the country. The judges said that according to the Telegram group members, the judge’s fingerprints helped the Taliban identify him as a judge.”

 

TOLO News, Passport Processing to Begin Countrywide on April 5th: Officials, 29 March 2022

“Officials at the Passport Department said on Tuesday at a press conference that passport processing is set to

begin across Afghanistan on April 5th.

Shafiullah Tasal, spokesman of the passport department, also said the department has recruited female staff to assist with the processing and distribution of passports for women.

“From sixteen of Hamal (solar month), April 5th, the processing of online passports will begin normally in Kabul

and all provinces,” said Shafiullah Tasal.

Tasal expressed hopes that female staff could accelerate the processing of passports for women.”

 

Al Jazeera, Afghans with correct legal documents may travel abroad: Taliban, 2 March 2022

“The Taliban says Afghans with legal documents could travel abroad after the United States and United Kingdom

raised concerns over previous comments that travel restrictions would be put in place.

“Our countrymen who have legal documents and invitation can travel abroad,” spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a tweet on Tuesday, adding that his previous announcement had been aimed at concerns over Afghans leaving without legal documents and travelling with smugglers.

The US State Department and the UK’s charge d’affaires sought clarity over Mujahid’s statements at a news conference on Sunday that raised concerns that travel restrictions could hinder freedom of movement and continuing evacuation efforts by Washington and other capitals.

Mujahid had originally said the Taliban’s travel restrictions would apply to Afghans who worked with NATO and

American forces, but did not elaborate under what, if any, circumstances they would be able to evacuate. The charge d’affaires of the UK Mission to Afghanistan, Hugo Shorter, said in a tweet on Tuesday evening, “Welcome clarification by Taliban spokesperson that Afghans with the right documents can still travel out of Afghanistan.

“We expect that unchanged rules mean that there is no new requirement for women leaving Afghanistan to be

accompanied by a male guardian,” Shorter added.

Mujahid had said on Sunday that women could not travel overseas for education without a male guardian.”

 

Ariana News, IEA says more than one million electronic IDs have been distributed, 27 February 2022

“The Islamic Emirate’s Central Statistics and Information office says more than one million electronic IDs have been distributed in the past six months.

The IDs have been distributed in Kabul, Balkh, Herat, Nangarhar, Khost and Kandahar provinces, according to a statement released by the department on Saturday.

According to the IEA, the process of distributing printed ID cards is underway in all provinces, and in 21 provinces, the process of printing and distributing new ID cards is underway.

The department says that on average 18,000 ID cards are distributed daily to applicants.

The department added that the online ID application system is active in 12 provinces, including Kabul.”

 

Government of the Netherlands, 294 Afghans destined for the Netherlands arrive in Pakistan, 23 February 2022 “Over the past few days, 294 Afghans ultimately destined for the Netherlands have arrived in Pakistan. Some of the individuals and families concerned are not in possession of valid travel documents. The Pakistani authorities have made an exception for this specific group of people and have given permission for them to travel to the Netherlands via Pakistan. [...] The government is continuing its strenuous efforts to bring eligible Afghans to the Netherlands.’ Permission The preparations for this operation began in October. Following intensive diplomatic talks, Pakistan offered the Netherlands the opportunity to submit a list of Afghans who were eligible to be brought to the Netherlands but who were not in possession of valid travel documents. With the consent of those involved,

the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted the names to the Pakistani authorities in November. [...] As soon as official authorisation had been obtained, the Afghan families in question were informed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and provided with instructions. With the help of the Dutch embassy, they crossed the border between 19 and 23 February. In Pakistan, they were received by the Dutch embassy in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration. The Dutch government is committed to ensuring that these people are able to continue their journey to the Netherlands as soon as possible. [...] The group consists of a number of Dutch residents, Afghans who have performed high-profile duties for the Netherlands as interpreters or other officials in an international military or police mission, Afghan NGO staff covered by the special provisions as set out in the letter to parliament of 11 October 2021 and members of their immediate families. In January, the Netherlands was granted permission by the Pakistani authorities to allow the first group of 35 Afghans to enter the country without valid travel documents. Most of them were able to travel to the Netherlands on a German charter flight via Hannover last Friday. For the time being, it is not possible to help other Afghans who are eligible to be brought to the Netherlands but have no passport. The Dutch government is continuing to seek a solution and advises people in the meantime to apply for a passport wherever possible. It is impossible to say exactly how many Afghans are still eligible for travel to the Netherlands as assessments are still being carried out in various parts of the Dutch

government.”

 

AVA Press, Taliban collected 1.3 million afghanis from passport distribution in Parwan, 3 January 2022

“Local Taliban officials in say they have collected more than 1.3 million afghanis in distribution in the past 43 days. “This revenue has been collected in the last 43 days,” said Mohammad Kamran , a Taliban spokesman for the Parwan Police Command in an interview with Hasht-e Subh today Monday, January 3rd.

During this period, they have processed the documents of 2,105 passport applicants, according to Kamran. The process of distributing passports in Parwan province began on November 27th, however, the process of collecting documents from new applicants, with the exception of patients, has been stopped by the end of the year.”

 

Khaama, Taliban issue 340,000 national IDs in four months, 1 January 2022

“National Statistics and Information Administration of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan said that they have issued

up to 340,000 electronic National IDs in the capital Kabul and provinces in the past four months.

“A statement released by the Administration on Saturday, January 1, 2022 reads that, already printed IDs have

been issued while the process of printing new IDs is going on in twenty provinces of the country.

““Kabul, Nangarhar, Paktia, Khost, Logar, Kandahar, Zabul, Balkh, Herat, Jawzjan, Baghlan, Ghazni, Badakhshan, Farah, Nuristan, Samangan, and Takhar are provinces where the process of both printing and issuing IDs are ongoing.” Reads the statement.

“The statement reads that they issue from 13,000 to 15,000 IDs on daily basis in the above-mentioned provinces. “In the meantime, the administration has assured of resuming issuance of IDs after completing a technical assessment of the centers in provinces where the process is stalled.

“ID applicants in Kabul and Herat provinces are reportedly allowed to apply online while people in other provinces have to apply in person.”

 

The Guardian, Hundreds queue for passports in bid to leave Afghanistan, 19 December 2021

“The Taliban initially stopped issuing passports shortly after their return to power, which came as the previous, western-backed regime imploded in the final stages of a US military withdrawal. In October, authorities reopened the passport office in Kabul only to suspend work days later as a flood of applications caused the biometric equipment to break down. The office said on Saturday that the issue has been resolved and people whose

applications were already being processed could get their documents.”

 

TOLO News, '32 Provinces' to Offer Passport Services: Officials, 5 December 2021

“Speaking at a press conference at the Government Media and Information Center (GMIC), passport department officials said that the passport-issuing process is set to begin tomorrow (Monday) in 14 more provinces of Afghanistan.

Alem Gul Haqqani, director of the passport department, told reporters that with these 14 additional provinces, a total of 32 provinces will be completely capable of issuing passports for applicants.

Based on Haqqani’s remarks, Kabul and Helmand provinces would not start services for now due to technical

problems.

“Everyone can go to his or her own province to get a passport based on their identity cards. We will not give them

passports in Kabul,” said Alem Gul Haqqani.

After resolving the technical problems within the Kabul passport department, the capital’s office will resume

service to the citizens, he said. “We have provided most of the equipment needed for the Kabul department and other provinces; we bought some equipment and the process will start in the coming days in Kabul,” said Haqqani. At the same time, Kabul residents declared they desperately need passports, and they asked for a quick reopening of the passport department in Kabul.

“The Islamic Emirate cannot provide facilities that existed previously in the Kabul passport department-- during the

previous government. People are spending days and nights waiting to receive passports,” said Saifullah, a resident.

Based on passport department figures, about 125,000 passports have been issued to the people since the

reopening of passport offices across the country.”

 

TOLO News, Passport Distribution is Still Halted in the Capital, 29 November 2021

“Twelve days have passed since the suspension of the passport distribution process in Kabul, even though offices are open in 17 provinces. A number of passport applicants said that even though they are ill and have medical conditions requiring travel, they have not been able to get their passports for days.”

 

AVA Press, Processing of passports suspended due to ‘technical problem’, 16 November 2021

“Alam Gul Haqqani, head of the General Directorate of Passports, said late Monday in a video message that

processing of passports at the office in Kabul has been suspended until further notice.

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA)_He attributed the decision to a technical problem – specifically with the biometric

system.

, head of the passport department, said the process would resume in Kabul once the problem was resolved. He also said that the distribution of passports had started in provinces other than Kabul, and that this would continue.

The distribution process started last week in , Herat, Kandahar, Kunduz, Nangarhar, Khost and Paktia provinces. Meanwhile, Interior Ministry spokesman Saeed said the ministry had arrested 60 people on charges of forging documents, including passports.

Khosti wrote on Twitter: “The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has arrested 60 fake passport makers, commissioners, and fake notice makers in the name of the Islamic Emirate. Among them are employees of the passport department.” After the fall of the previous government, the distribution of passports was suspended for almost two months.

According to officials from the , about 100,000 passports have been issued in the last 40 days.”

 

Reuters, Kabul passport office suspends work as demand crashes system, 16 November 2021

“The Kabul passport office has been forced to suspend operations after equipment used for issuing biometric documents broke down under the pressure of processing thousands of applications a day, the head of the office said.

[...] Alam Gul Haqqani, director of the passport department, said as many as 15,000-20,000 people a day were camped outside the office in Kabul, five or six times more than the office was able to handle, with many sleeping on the pavement overnight.

Many were forced to come back day after day after failing to file their application and the biometric machines regularly broke down as they processed the documents, causing further delays, he said.

"To stop people suffering this and to avoid disturbance, we have decided to stop the activities of the passport department activities for a few days," he told TOLO News television on Monday night, adding that the office would re-open soon.

On Tuesday, the interior ministry said 60 people, including a number of members of the passport department, had been arrested for using forged or fake documents to obtain a passport. There have also been growing complaints of people being forced to pay bribes to officials to get their applications approved.”

 

Khaama Press, Taliban to begin issuing passports in seven other provinces, 13 November 2021

“Officials of the Passport Directorate said that they will start the issuance of passports in Balkh, Paktia, Kandahar, Kunduz, Herat, Nangarhar, and Khost provinces on Sunday, November 14. [...]

“The passports will be issued based on the e-ID or the previous IDs that are verified officially. The rumors about lack of passport are not true.” Said Haqqani.

Haqqani added that there are 900,000 passports in the directorate, 600,000 passports with the company responsible for their printing, one million passports are in the process of printing, and one and a half million more are going to be printed. [...]

As per statistics, the Taliban have issued one hundred thousand passports since they resumed the process and

have made 500 million Afghanis from it.”

 

TOLO News, Passport Services to Begin in Provinces: Officials, 25 October 2021

“A number of passport applicants in Kabul complained about irregularities in the Kabul passport department and demanded the officials to end the problems. The passport issuance process is scheduled to begin in the next two weeks in a number of major provinces, officials from the passport department said.

Alam Gul Haqqani, head of passport department, said that the process in the provinces was stopped due to technical problems and once the problems are resolved, the distribution process will begin again. [...]

The passport distribution process is going well in Kabul and over 50,000 passports have been distributed so far, he said.

On the other hand, a number of passport applicants in Kabul complained about irregularities in the Kabul passport department and demanded the officials to end the problems. [...]

It has been a month that the passport distribution process has been operating in Kabul, but still this process has

not started in other provinces.

Statistics of the passport department show that over 5,000 passports are being issued every day in Kabul and since

the beginning of this process more than 50,000 passports have been distributed.”

 

Amnesty International, Afghanistan: Few routes to safety for Afghans at risk of Taliban reprisals, 20 October 2021 ““Trying to get out of Afghanistan right now is like an obstacle course. Since the Taliban takeover it has been near- impossible to obtain travel documents, forcing many Afghans to make irregular journeys which result in punitive treatment by other governments. Instead of finding safety and protection, Afghans who fled the Taliban end up trapped in makeshift camps at border zones, or detained while they await deportation to an uncertain fate,” said Francesca Pizzutelli, Head of Amnesty International’s Refugees and Migrants’ Rights Team.”

 

TOLO News, 30,000 Passports Issued Since Office Reopened, 13 October 2021

“The passport department has distributed 30,000 passports since the office reopened ten days ago in Kabul, officials said on Wednesday.

According to officials, the department is able to issue 4,000 passports per day and efforts are underway to increase capacity to 6,000 per day.

Officials further added the department has been paid 110 million Afghanis since the office started its services. “First, we start the process of issuing passports for those who pay the fees to the banks, and then we work on the issuing of passports for those who filed documents online," said Alim Gul Haqani, head of the passport department.

Reportedly thousands of Afghans flocked to the passport department to receive travel documents. Many reasons caused them to come together and file documents for passport.

Some of the applicants said they are fleeing the country to seek work opportunities, while others said they were

traveling for school or medical treatment.”

 

TOLO News, Officials: Identity Card Centers to Resume Operations Soon, 11 October 2021

“Following a recent announcement by the Islamic Emirate over the distribution of national identity cards, the National Statistics and Information Authority said on Monday that electronic National Identity Card (eNIC) centers are going to reopen on Wednesday across Afghanistan.

Officials further said that around 30,000 identity cards that are already printed will be distributed in the first step. “30,000 identity cards have been printed and are ready to be distributed. The process will begin on Wednesday,” said Yousuf Ahadi, who is in charge of information technology at the NSIA.

Meanwhile, several residents told TOLOnews that people require ID cards for various purposes. A resident in Kabul, Shabir Ahmad, said he intends to travel abroad to get medical treatment for his family member.

Shabir Ahmad said: “We seriously need ID cards. Everyone needs to take their patients abroad. Having ID cards is necessary for getting a passport.”

“Before the reopening of the passport department, it was necessary that ID centers be opened. People have many problems that are related to the opening of the ID card center," said Husamudin, a resident.

Officials at the NSIA added that so far about 6 million Afghan citizens have received their eNIC cards and there are 104 centers in total for the distribution of ID cards in the country, 25 of which are based in Kabul.”

 

AVA Press, Taliban to continue issuance previous government’s e-NIDs, 10 October 2021

“Afghan Voice Agency (AVA)_The cabinet has directed the National Statistics and Information Administration of

the country to resume issuing -NIDs under the name of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, BNA reported. The process has been stalled for the past nearly two months since the Taliban took over on August, 15.

Earlier, the Taliban had directed to resume issuance of the same passports of the previous government that started on Wednesday.

Taliban officially started the issuance of passports last week and pledged to be issuing up to six thousand each day. E-NID is a must require card to apply for passports in Afghanistan.”

Al Jazeera, Hundreds throng passport office in Afghanistan capital Kabul, 6 October 2021

“Hundreds of Afghans have flocked to the passport office in Kabul a day after it was announced it would reopen to issue travel documents.

Taliban soldiers beat back some in the crowd in efforts to maintain order on Wednesday.

Taliban officials said the service will resume on Saturday after being suspended since the armed group’s takeover and the fall of Ashraf Ghani’s government in August, which stranded many of those desperate to flee the country.”

 

Khaama Press, We will issue 6,000 passports daily: Taliban officials, 5 October 2021

“Officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan resumed the issuance of passports on Tuesday, October 5, and promised that the previous government was issuing three thousand passports but they intend to issue six thousand passports per day.

The department of passport opens nearly two months after the Taliban took over the country.

Head of the department Alamgul Haqqani said that they currently have one million notebooks of passport-on which they print passports- and added that there are 25 thousand passports ready to be issued.

Unlike other government bodies-except for education and health sectors- the Taliban asked the female employees of the department to come to their jobs and promised to pay the salaries for the past three months.

The Taliban does not intend to print their own passport having their logo and said that they will continue with the passports and NIDs of the previous government, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan had promised to resume the issuance of NIDs as well but they did not comment

on the issue in Tuesday’s press conference.

As per the policy of the previous government, those who apply for passports should have electronic NID thus,

there is desperate need for the issuance of NIDs first so that the applicants get eligible to apply for passports.”

 

TOLO News, Afghan People Call for Govt Offices to Open, 12 September 2021

“Even though the Taliban announced a 33-member caretaker cabinet last week, most government offices have not resumed services, residents complained on Sunday.

Speaking to TOLOnews, the residents called on the Taliban to immediately provide services so citizens' problems can be addressed.

Noor Agha, who is from Herat province, along with several others is waiting for the passport office to be opened. He intends to leave for Pakistan to receive medical treatment.

Noor Agha told TOLOnews: “The department is closed. They do not distribute passports. I am sick, I want to go Pakistan.” [...]

Officials from the passport department said they are waiting to receive directions from the Ministry of Interior. The problem not only applies to the capital city of Kabul. Kunduz residents are encountering the same challenges. The residents are waiting for the reopening of the banks in the province.”