Pakistani Visas Sold on Kabul Black Market For Up To $1,500
Abdulhaq Omeri
Reporter
Afghan applicants say Pakistani visas are being sold on the black market in Kabul for between $1,000 and $1,500, despite an official fee of just around $ 25.
Reporter
Afghan applicants say Pakistani visas are being sold on the black market in Kabul for between $1,000 and $1,500, despite an official fee of just around $ 25.
Several applicants told Afghanistan International on Thursday that without paying bribes to travel agencies approved by Pakistan’s embassy and consulates, obtaining a visa is either impossible or can take months.
Some Afghans said they had paid large sums through travel agencies in exchange for expedited and guaranteed visa processing at Pakistan’s embassy and consulates in Kabul, Nangarhar, Kandahar and Balkh.
Applicants seeking medical treatment said they were compelled to pay the inflated prices. According to information obtained, medical visas are sold on the black market for between $1,300 and $1,500, while tourist visas reportedly cost between $1,500 and $2,000.
Several applicants said they were effectively required to deal with travel agencies registered with Pakistan’s diplomatic missions in order to secure a visa.
One applicant in Kabul said: “I applied for a medical visa and paid 1,500 afghanis, but after four months I had not received it. I then paid $1,300 to a company in Kabul and was invited to the embassy for an interview the same day. I received the visa that day.”
He added: “During the interview they asked how much I had paid for the visa. I said 1,500 afghanis. If I had said I paid $1,300, my visa would have been rejected.”
Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul has not responded to the allegations.
Officials at several travel agencies in Kabul and Nangarhar confirmed that Pakistani visas are being sold on the black market. They said applicants who follow standard procedures often wait for months and may ultimately have their applications rejected.
Some Afghans have urged the Taliban authorities to raise the issue with Pakistani officials to curb the illegal sale of visas.
Complaints about Pakistan’s visa process have increased since the collapse of the former Afghan government. Nearly five years into Taliban rule, the issue remains unresolved.
