Central Government Says Deportation Of Afghan Woman MP Was "Mistake"

Afghan Woman MP Deported: The Central government has expressed regret over the deportation of a woman Afghan parliamentarian Rangina Kargar from Delhi and called it a "mistake" which would not be repeated in the future, as per reports.

According to a report by ANI, Congress leader in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said on Thursday, "We raised the issue of a female (Afghan) diplomat who was deported. They said that they made a mistake, it won't be repeated and they will look into the matter."

This happened during the all-party briefing on Afghanistan crisis by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The Congress leader told the reporters that the government has decided to "wait and watch" before taking any step for the Afghanistan issue. All parties reportedly supported the central government.

Kharge said, "This is the entire country's problem. We have to work together for the interests of people and the nation. They told us to wait and watch. Meaning, the further course of action will be decided after looking at the actions of other countries. All parties have taken the same view."

Later the government reportedly apologised to Kargar for the treatment she was met with at the airport and offered her to apply for an emergency visa.

Earlier, media reports stated that Kargar was deported from New Delhi International Airport on August 20 as she failed to produced documents. Kargar reportedly did not have any medical reference or papers from the Afghan embassy. The Indian government is only allowing Afghan nationals to enter the country on e-visa and Kargar did not have that. She reportedly carried a diplomat passport which would grant her visa-free travel to India as per the mutual agreement between Afghanistan and India in 2016. Since the Taliban captured Afghanistan, the provision has been cancelled.

During the all-party briefing, the Congress also raised the issues of Afghan students in India and other nationals of the country. The central government has assured that it will work towards their interest, Kharge told reporters.