PESHAWAR: The Taliban on Sunday imposed new restrictions, preventing Afghans from leaving the country without plausible reason.
The Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that those leaving the country without any plausible were being stopped at the airport. Mujahid also told a news conference that women would not be able to travel abroad without a male relative.
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Mujahid said that if women want to travel abroad, they should be accompanied by a male guardian. Mujahid said that there have been numerous reports that thousands of Afghans are living in very bad conditions abroad, that is why travel restrictions have been imposed. He added it was the government’s responsibility to protect the people and travel restrictions will remain in place until assurances were given that the lives of Afghans going abroad will not be threaten. He clarified that the Taliban government had never promised that the evacuation process will continue indefinitely.
Arrangements for evacuation by other countries or NGOs were also banned, while individuals or families leaving individually will have to justify leaving the country, otherwise immigration officials will stop them at the airport.
Since the new travel bans, thousands of Afghans working with the US military or Western organisations are now facing an uncertain future. During the withdrawal of foreign troops last year, as of August 31, 120,000 Afghans and dual nationals had been assisted leaving Afghanistan. However, there are still thousands of Afghans seeking to flee the country. There are also those who have in the past been associated with foreign agencies.
Before the announcement, the Taliban launched a home to home search against kidnappers, thieves and robbers in different cities of the country, including the capital Kabul. The operation has created fear among civilians, especially those who have worked with US or other foreign forces. The Taliban claim that light and heavy weapons, explosives, radio equipment, drones and government vehicles have been seized during the operation.