"All Afghan nationals can now travel to India only on an e-visa" : Government

New Delhi: "All Afghan nationals can now travel to India only on an e-visa," announced the Ministry of Home Affairs, this afternoon, spotlighting the security situation in the war-ravaged country since the return of the Taliban.

The decision came days after a new category of visa called the e-Emergency X-Misc visa for the Afghan nationals was introduced by the government. "These visas will initially be valid for six months, said the officials."

"Owing to the prevailing security situation in Afghanistan and streamlining of the visa process by introduction of the ''e-Emergency X-Misc visa'', it has been decided that all Afghan nationals henceforth must travel to India only on e-Visa," said the Ministry in a statement.

In view of some reports that certain passports of Afghan nationals have been misplaced, the Home Ministry announced that "previously issued visas to all Afghan nationals, who are presently not in India, stand invalidated with immediate effect."

"As Indians missions in Afghanistan are shut, the applications will be examined and processed in New Delhi," news agency PTI reported.

"A total of 626 people, including 228 Indian citizens, have been evaculated from Afghanistan till now," Minister Hardeep Puri, updated. He also informed that 77 among them were Afghan Sikhs. The number of Indian citizens evacuated does not include those working in the Indian Embassy," added Puri.

He further informed that "77 among them were Afghan Sikhs. The number of Indian citizens evacuated does not include those working in the Indian Embassy."

India earlier had announced that it would "facilitate repatriation to India of those who wish to leave Afghanistan" and said that the Hindus and Sikhs from the country will be given priority.

The Taliban swept across Afghanistan this month, seizing control of almost all key towns and cities in the backdrop of withdrawal of the US forces that began on May 1.

Kabul also fell to the Taliban, even though a large number of Afghans attempted in vain to flee the nation, on May 5.