Restrictions imposed by the Islamic Emirate on Afghan citizens traveling abroad have provoked strong reactions. Some social media users see this act of the Islamic Emirate as “hostage-taking,” and a number of politicians say that it will have a negative impact on Kabul’s interaction with the world.
“When the government decides that its citizens should not go abroad, it should provide job opportunities for the youth,” said Milad Arian, a graduate student. “The international community will not keep silent about it and will show a strong reaction to this,” said Ishaq Gailani, leader of the Afghanistan Solidarity Movement.
Najim formerly worked with NATO forces in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2012. Najim and his family members, like thousands of Afghans, are officially allowed to travel to the United States, but he has been deeply concerned by the Islamic Emirate’s recent decision to ban Afghan citizens from traveling abroad.
“Those who have legal documents should be allowed to travel. We who have the documents–we will not be allowed to go,” said Najim, a resident of Kabul. But the Islamic Emirate said that following reports about the challenges of Afghan refugees in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, they have imposed travel restrictions.
“If the Afghans are not sure what will happen to them outside, we will close it (for now); I reminded you that more than 50,000 Afghans are in a bad situation in the Doha camps,” said Zabiullah Mujahid, spokesman of the Islamic Emirate. The United States evacuated more than 120,000 people from Afghanistan during an airlift in August last year. But Washington estimates that more than 60,000 former US colleagues in Afghanistan who have applied for special immigration programs still remain in Afghanistan.
Allowing foreign nationals and Afghans who helped the international forces to leave was a commitment of the Islamic Emirate to the international community, and it is not clear how the international community will react to the halt of this process.—Tolo News
