11 Women Killed In Stampede Near Pakistan Consulate In Afghanistan

At least 11 women were killed in a stampede that occurred in an open ground where thousands of Afghan nationals had gathered on Tuesday to secure visas from the Pakistan consulate in Jalalabad city in eastern Afghanistan. The Pakistan consulate had resumed issuing visas last week after a seven-month pause because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Sohrab Qaderi, a provincial council member in eastern Jalalabad city, said that out of the 15 people dead, 11 were women, and several senior citizens were also wounded, reported Reuters. Provincial hospital spokesman Zaher Adel said that many people were trampled when they tried to exit the stadium, leaving 10 others injured.

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Two other provincial officials told Reuters that over three thousand Afghans had gathered to collect tokens needed to apply for a visa to travel to Pakistan. One person also said, “I stood in the queue all night but at some point people got angry and started pushing, many of us fell on the ground.”

Mansoor Ahmad Khan, Pakistan’s ambassador to Kabul, wrote on Twitter, “Deeply saddened at the reports of casualties at a stadium in Jalalabad 5 km from Pakistani Consulate where visa applicants were being organized by Afghan provincial authorities. We sympathize with the families of victims.”

Deeply saddened at the reports of casualties at a stadium in Jalalabad 5 km from Pakistani Consulate where visa applicants were being organized by Afghan provincial authorities. We sympathize with the families of victims.

— Mansoor Ahmad Khan (@ambmansoorkhan) October 21, 2020

Khan also spoke about the new visa policy and said, “We are engaged with Afghan authorities for better facilitation of visa applicants. We are committed to continue visa issuance to Afghan nationals under new visa policy while making the process smoother and streamlined at our end.”

We are engaged with Afghan authorities for better facilitation of visa applicants. We are committed to continue visa issuance to Afghan nationals under new visa policy while making the process smoother and streamlined at our end. @ForeignOfficePk @mfa_afghanistan

— Mansoor Ahmad Khan (@ambmansoorkhan) October 21, 2020

 Provincial governor's spokesman Attaullah Khogyani said, “To avoid large crowds from gathering at the visa centre the applicants had been directed to a nearby football stadium in Jalalabad.”

As per reports, officials in the Pakistan embassy were not immediately available for comment.

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New visa policy

Earlier, the Pakistan embassy and consulates in Afghanistan were issuing only one-time entry visas to Afghan visitors. However, on September 29, Pakistan’s federal cabinet approved a new visa policy for Afghanistan to issue multiple entry visit visas to facilitate Afghan traders and citizens.

Reportedly on October 12, Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul issued over 2,000 visas in a single day. Khan announced that his country's consulates in Afghanistan will continue to issue visas to Afghan citizens.

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On October 19, Khan discussed with former President of Afghan, H.E Hamid Karzai about Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. He wrote on Twitter, “Had the honour to call on former Afghan President H.E. Hamid Karzai and had discussions about peace process and Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.”

Had the honour to call on former Afghan President H.E. Hamid Karzai and had discussions about peace process and Pakistan-Afghanistan relations ⁦@KarzaiH⁩ ⁦@ForeignOfficePk⁩ ⁦@PakEmbKabul⁩ pic.twitter.com/OZQXsDXF6c

— Mansoor Ahmad Khan (@ambmansoorkhan) October 19, 2020

Sagrika Giri is an intern with SheThePeople.TV.