Key Factors
- A Taliban decree from 30 July is being enforced, blocking these carrying passports it deems invalid.
- The decree impacts passports and different paperwork issued by embassies in Australia and 13 different international locations.
- Afghan group leaders are calling employees on the Afghan embassy in Canberra to resolve the ‘drawback’.
Ahmad* was compelled to endure a “irritating” layover at Abu Dhabi airport along with his household, and pay hundreds in further charges, after his passport wasn’t accepted for a flight into Afghanistan in early August.
In contrast to his spouse and youngsters who travelled with their Australian passports, Ahmad was carrying his Afghan passport which had been prolonged on 22 July on the Afghan embassy in Canberra.
He was stopped on the gate, in what gave the impression to be the enforcement of a to not recognise paperwork issued by Afghanistan’s diplomatic missions arrange by the previous, Western-backed authorities.
The Taliban mentioned it will not honour passports, visas and different paperwork issued by diplomats related to the earlier administration.
Ahmad mentioned he was unaware that his passport can be deemed invalid because it was prolonged earlier than 30 July.
“On 22 July, I prolonged my passport on the Afghan embassy, [paid $350] in Canberra and on 8 August, I had a flight from Melbourne to Afghanistan, the place my transit was in Abu Dhabi. After I arrived in Abu Dhabi, I wasn’t granted permission to fly from to Kabul,” he informed SBS Pashto and SBS Dari.
“[Afghan airline] Kam Air mentioned ‘you aren’t allowed to fly [to Afghanistan]’. Solely I used to be not allowed as a result of I used to be holding an Afghan passport however my spouse and my youngsters had Australian passports.”
Though Ahmad’s household was granted permission to board, they missed their flight resulting from his passport situation.
Ahmad parted methods along with his household, and journey to Pakistan, hoping to cross into neighbouring Afghanistan – an possibility via a 3rd nation accessible to those that renewed their passport earlier than the Taliban decree was introduced.
“I stayed for about 10 hours at Abu Dhabi airport with my spouse and youngsters.
“After that, I made a decision to ship my household to Kabul on the following flight and I went to Pakistan.”
He was granted a visa to enter Pakistan that night time at a price of $1,200, regardless of the standard price for Afghan passport holders of $12.
Ahmad ultimately made it to Afghanistan, however described the episode as “hurtful”.
Taliban refuses some journey paperwork
The Afghan embassy in Canberra has continued to supply consular companies to Afghan nationals in Australia, regardless of not having formal relations with the Taliban.
The 30 July decree impacts companies rendered by the embassy, together with the problem of passports, passport renewal stickers, visas and endorsements.
Consular missions in 13 international locations have been additionally affected, together with these in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy, Greece and Canada.
The Taliban mentioned it had requested abroad missions to “interact with Kabul to at the least tackle consular services-related problems with Afghans”, including that the missions continued to hold out companies “with out coordination”.
SBS Pashto understands that the decree enforcement stemmed from a breakdown in communication between the embassy diplomats in Canberra, who have been appointed by the earlier Afghan authorities, and the Taliban authorities.
Equally, the , which was why it hadn’t accepted the Taliban’s ambassador, head of consular companies, or diplomats.
Though the Australian authorities doesn’t recognise the Taliban, International Affairs Minister Penny Wong in July launched a brand new
The Taliban says it is not going to recognise consular paperwork issued by Afghan embassies in Canberra and 13 different cities. Credit score: SBS Pashto / Mujeeb Muneeb
Ahmad suggested different travellers to test the validity of their journey paperwork earlier than departing Australia.
“If you’re coming from certainly one of these 13 international locations [where the diplomatic missions have no contact with the Taliban], you’ll want to name and get extra data,” he mentioned.
“It will enable you to keep away from points that may waste your time and cash and will likely be very irritating.”
Ismael Shah Niazi is a Melbourne-based Afghan journey agent who has been offering companies to the group since 2005.
He defined that the Taliban had instructed airways working to Afghanistan to comply with their directives and “strictly implement the brand new coverage”.
He suggested travellers who had obtained or renewed their passports on the Afghan embassy in Canberra after the Taliban decree to keep away from travelling till a decision is supplied.
“Lately, a number of passengers have been stranded at Dubai airport as a result of their passports had been prolonged by the Afghan embassy in Canberra,” he mentioned.
“Primarily based on our current experiences, we strongly advise in opposition to travelling if you’re not in compliance with the brand new coverage, as you threat being stranded in transit. We’ve got been involved with the Afghan embassies in Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur, and so they have directed us to mail passports to them for renewal.
“Sadly, it is a expensive train however these Afghan passport holders don’t have any different alternative.”
Ismael Shah Niazi is a Melbourne-based Afghan journey agent. Credit score: Provided
A spokesperson from the Division of International Affairs and Commerce (DFAT) mentioned it was conscious of stories of journey paperwork held by Afghan Australians being rejected.
“The division continues to advise ‘don’t journey’ to Afghanistan as a result of extraordinarily harmful safety scenario and the very excessive risk of terrorism and kidnapping,” the spokesperson mentioned.
“Our journey recommendation () states that our capability to supply consular and passport help is severely restricted and cannot be delivered in individual, nor can we facilitate the supply of passports into Afghanistan.”
‘Oppressive rule’ prolonged, says embassies’ peak physique
In an announcement, a spokesperson for the Coordination Council of Diplomatic and Consular Missions of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – which speaks for the Canberra embassy – informed SBS Pashto the Taliban’s actions in opposition to the consulates in Europe, Canada and Australia have been “unfounded”.
Together with different “harsh and draconian” approaches in the direction of human rights, the transfer clearly demonstrated the Taliban’s intention to “additional consolidate their unilateral and oppressive rule over Afghan society,” the assertion mentioned.
“On this context, we specific our deepest gratitude to the host international locations which have supported Afghan Diplomatic and Consular Missions over the previous three years.
“Nonetheless, we reiterate that any change to the established order of those missions may have profoundly unfavorable implications, together with the termination of vitally vital consular companies for the massive Afghan diaspora residing in Europe and overseas.”
‘Resolve issues’
It is as much as the embassy to take motion to “resolve issues” confronted by the Afghan group, in accordance with Abdul Khaliq Arsala who served as the top of the consular unit on the Canberra embassy from 2010 to 2014.
“It’s apparent to everybody that the answer to this drawback is for the embassy to work together with the [Taliban] centre relating to the consular companies. One factor we should always not neglect is that the political part and the consular part are two completely different branches [at an embassy],” he mentioned.
“It’s true that our embassy colleagues in Canberra don’t share any political widespread floor with the centre and don’t want to set up relations. Nonetheless, from a consular perspective, in the event you evaluate the historical past of diplomatic and consular rights, you will see that that even international locations in battle and struggle have saved their consular items energetic.”
Abdul Khaliq Arsala served as the top of the consular unit on the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Canberra. Credit score: Provided
Faradoun Jafari is the Director of Communication on the Federation of Hazara Councils of Australia.
As a citizen of Afghanistan, he condemned the Taliban decree which has prompted issues for the Afghan group.
“We spoke with our compatriots based mostly in Australia, (and) they expressed many considerations, notably about consular companies,” he mentioned.
“The present Taliban authorities doesn’t adhere to any worldwide or diplomatic legal guidelines, so it’s vital for the Afghan ambassador in Canberra to come back [to the community] and supply details about this [issue] to his countrymen.
“Since a few of our compatriots who travelled to Dubai have encountered issues travelling to Afghanistan, this has sadly grow to be a standard situation. I hope will probably be resolved as quickly as attainable.”
*Title modified resulting from security considerations.
This story was produced in collaboration with SBS Dari.
