Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul suspended visa services to Afghans until further notice. The decision was taken after Pakistan’s foreign ministry claimed their Kabul-based diplomats were harassed. In a statement, the Pakistani foreign ministry has said they have summoned Afghan charge d’affaires in Islamabad on Sunday and lodged protest for “harassment” of diplomatic personnel in Kabul and its sub-missions. The statement further added that the embassy vehicles were chased by other vehicles, one of which was also hit by motorcycles while going towards the embassy.
Thousands of Afghans apply for Pakistani visas on a daily basis, and an overwhelming majority of them are going to Pakistan for medical treatment, because they cannot find the necessary healthcare in the country, and cannot afford going elsewhere other than Pakistan as the only affordable option for them.
Despite receiving billions of dollars in aid from the international community, Afghanistan has not yet been able to develop a functional health system, one that can accommodate all the needs for quality health services. Afghan people continue to go abroad for treatment of some basic diseases, something that not only leads to capital flight but also presents some countries such as Pakistan a chance to use the issue as a bargaining chip. Afghan government neither can create conducive conditions for quality medical treatment nor can maintain relations with Pakistan at a level that will at least prevent problems in visa services.
Leaders of both states need to resolve the visa issues as soon as possible because it is in the interest of both nations. By providing facilities in consular services, thousands of Afghans who need medical treatment will receive visas while also generating revenue for Pakistan. On the contrary, problems in visa services can further widen the trust deficit between the two nations. To squeeze Kabul, Islamabad should also not use means that are against human values. Afghans go to Pakistan primarily for medical treatment, and depriving patients from necessary treatment by denying them visas is on no account a justifiable move.
