Pakistani consulate in Jalalabad set to be re-operational

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani Consulate General in Jalalabad, Afghanistan is set to resume its visa operations from Monday, according to a statement released by the Foreign Office on Sunday.

“Pakistan’s Consulate General in Jalalabad, which was closed on 30th August 2018 will resume its visa operations, after assurances by the Afghan government that all necessary and required security will be provided to the Consulate Generalz,” said Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal.

“All visa applicants in Jalalabad and surrounding areas within the jurisdiction of the Consulate General could now apply for visa with the Consulate General with effect from Monday 8th October 2018,”  he added.

Pakistan cited “undue intervention” by Nangarhar governor Hayatullah Hayat as the reason for closing off the consulate last month, terming the intervention as a “complete violation of the Vienna Convention of the Consular Relations 1963”.

“The Embassy of Pakistan Kabul deeply regrets undue intervention of Governor Hayatullah Hayat in the functioning of the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Jalalabad, [which is a ] complete violation of the Vienna Convention of the Consular Relations 1963,” read a statement released by Pakistan’s Embassy in Kabul at the time.