Ankara annuls diplomatic visa deal with Kabul

KABUL (Pajhwok): Ankara has annulled an agreement with Kabul for exempting diplomatic passport-holders from the visa formality.

The accord on mutual removal of visas for diplomatic passport-holders had been given the go-ahead by the Turkish government in 2008.

But under a presidential decree published in the Official Gazette, the agreement would be suspended with effect from June 1, Daily Sabah reported on Wednesday.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signed the decree, which states: “The agreement … on the reciprocal visa exemption for holders of diplomatic passports … will be suspended as of June 1.”

No reason was given for the decision, which comes weeks after a visit by Turkish migration officials to Afghanistan.

Officials of Turkey’s General Directorate of Migration met authorities in Kabul earlier in the month on irregular migration of Afghan nationals to Türkiye and their deportations.

During the current year, figures from the Turkish General Directorate of Migration show, more than 27,000 illegal Afghan migrants were intercepted as of May.

With the agreement halted, officials from both countries will have to go through the visa application process for entry into Afghanistan and Turkey.

PAN Monitor/mud

Views: 74