Web Desk: The Pakistan Embassy in Kabul has rejected allegations that Pakistani visas are being sold on the black market, saying it remains committed to providing Afghan citizens with a transparent and accessible visa system.
The response follows a recent investigation published by Arab News that suggested some Afghan applicants were paying travel agents between $1,300 and $1,800 to obtain Pakistani visas, far above the official fee.
In a written response to the report, the embassy said it has not authorised any agents, intermediaries or travel companies to collect money on its behalf for visa processing.
Officials said the official visa fee for Afghan citizens is approximately $25 and must be paid directly through an online payment system using a credit card.
Press Counsellor Syed Khizar Ali said the mission is aware that some applicants rely on local agents because many people in Afghanistan do not have access to credit cards required for the online system.
He added that Pakistan remains committed to maintaining a visa regime for Afghan nationals that is fair, transparent and accessible.
However, several travel agencies in Kabul and Nangarhar told Arab News that Pakistani visas are being informally traded through intermediaries.
Some agents said they process dozens of visa applications each week, particularly since tensions along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border increased in recent months.
One travel agency manager, speaking on condition of anonymity, said some visa applications are approved within three days, which he claimed raises questions about whether the process is fully controlled by the embassy.
Travel agencies have also advertised services for what they describe as “guaranteed” medical and tourist visas, both online and at physical offices, with prices negotiated privately with applicants.
Afghan applicants say the official online process can take months, with some applications receiving no response or being rejected without explanation.
According to people familiar with the system, long waiting periods have pushed many applicants to seek help from private intermediaries to secure travel documents more quickly.
One employee at a Kabul-based travel agency claimed that informal waiting lists for visa applications are sometimes organised in a manner similar to airline seat allocations.
He said once one list is completed another begins, creating what he described as a continuous cycle of visa processing. According to the agent, prices for visas have remained between $1,300 and $1,800 over the past month.
The Pakistan Embassy in Kabul dismissed the claims as baseless and said any extra payments collected by private agents are illegal and have no connection to the mission.
Officials emphasised that maintaining a transparent visa system for Afghan citizens remains a core responsibility of the embassy, while urging applicants to follow official procedures when submitting visa requests.
Read more: Taliban set Torkham Market ablaze, put blame on Pakistan
