KABUL (SW) – A number of Afghans queening up to get visa for Pakistan said they are compelled to pay bribe and wait for days.
A number of elderly, patients with serious conditions and women were also seen waiting outside the Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul for days. Many of them said despite being able to enter the embassy compound after waiting for days, only those paying bribes of $ 200 or $ 300 are issued with visas.
A security official who wished not to be named told Salam Watandar the embassy staff and some powerful figures in Kabul are causing all the trouble. He said men associated with a former Mujahedeen commander are collaborating with the embassy staff to sell the visas for $ 200 or $ 300 each.
The security official said men associated with this commander roam around the Embassy of Pakistan, and do not even allow journalists to monitor the affairs. These men have reportedly beaten up a local private TV news reporter few days back, and have even clashed with the police.
To monitor the situation, Salam Watandar reporter wished to view the passport receiving window where a group of men threatened him of physical abuse, and forced the reporter to leave thanks to the timely intervention of the police.
The frustrated visitors demanded the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to help resolve this issue with the Embassy of Pakistan.
However, the MoFA spokesman, Sibghatullah Ahmadi, said this is the Embassy’s internal matter, but repeated efforts in this regard have failed to yield any result.
SW wished to have the views of the Embassy of Pakistan, but repeated calls were not answered.
ENDS
