Weesa asks Iran to relax visa regime

KANDANAHAR (PAN): Governor Tooryalai Weesa on Wednesday asked Iranian Consulate General in southern Kandahar province to relax visa process for Afghans intending to visit the neighbouring country for trade, medical treatment and other purposes.

A number of Afghans, including businessmen and patients, have been complaining that the Consulate did not issue visas to them easily, an official at the governor’s house, Javed Faisal told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said the governor summoned Iranian Consulate General Ali Asghar to discuss the problems facing Afghans in obtaining Iranian visas.

Faisal quoted Asghar as telling the governor that the Consulate issued 1,500 visas to Afghans each month and up to 3,000 people apply for visas during the period.

The diplomat said the Consulate could not issue visas to Afghans above a specific figure allowed by the Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The governor said Afghan traders and patients should be given priority for visas.

Weesa and Asghar also discussed bilateral ties and efforts to improve academic and culture relations between the two nations.

The governor asked the Consul General to arrange capacity building training for Kandahar officials in Iran.

ma/vp