First Vice-President Amrullah Saleh on Saturday alleged middlemen from six different circles collected $100,000 from selling Pakistani visas on a daily basis.
Many people in Kabul and Jalalabad, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province, have been complaining of being fleeced by visa agents over the years.
Visa applicants have also staged protests in front of the Pakistani embassy in Kabul in past weeks. They claim only those applicants who pay commissions to middlemen are granted visas.
Amrullah Saleh, who is also in charge of Kabul security, said in a Facebook post: “Our plan to streamline the process for Pakistani visa applicant is now complete.” We are waiting for Pakistan embassy to provide information how many applications they can process.”
The VP wrote: “I know the groups that have turned Pakistani visas– which used to be free — into a lucrative business by taking commissions.”
On average, Saleh said, an amount of $100,000 was collected by six groups from ordinary Pakistani visa applicants on a daily basis.
“The plan for handling crowds and controlling disorder among visa applicants in front of the Pakistan embassy will be complete in three days.”
The VP assured: “We will keep our promise and would not let people be insulted due to disorder while applying for visas.”
He claimed progress had been made in investigation of the attacks on the Kabul University and KawsarEducation Centre. Clues had been found to the perpetrators, he said.
Saleh explained he could not share detailed information due to the sensitivity of the issue.Those involved in the attacks would be exposed soon.
