India to Resume Medical Visas for Afghan Citizens, Taliban Minister Says
India will soon resume issuing medical visas for Afghan citizens, according to Nooruddin Azizi, the Taliban administration’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, during his visit to India.
Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi on Monday, November 23, Azizi said that visa-related issues have been resolved in cooperation with India’s Ministry of External Affairs. He added that Afghan citizens can now directly apply for medical visas at the Indian Embassy in Kabul.
Azizi described India as a key destination for Afghan patients seeking medical treatment and noted that discussions between Kabul and New Delhi are ongoing to simplify the visa issuance process, aiming to make travel easier for Afghan patients.
He also mentioned that talks are underway to improve trade and transit cooperation. According to Azizi, Afghanistan is seeking to strengthen trade and people-to-people relations with India, although these ties have faced challenges since the Taliban took power.
Previously, Azizi also met with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to discuss ways to expand bilateral cooperation. These meetings come as the Taliban administration continues to face both domestic and international criticism over its diplomatic standing, and its international legitimacy remains under question.
