British Envoy Criticizes New Travel Restrictions Imposed By Afghanistan's Taliban Government

Illustration of the evacuation of Afghan citizens. (Twitter/@DeptofDefense)

JAKARTA - The Taliban government's announcement that it will restrict Afghans from leaving the country under some circumstances has drawn criticism from the British envoy, amid fears they could hinder continued evacuation efforts.

The spokesman for the Taliban government, Zabihullah Mujahid, said on Sunday Afghans would not be allowed to leave the country unless they had a clear purpose. And, women cannot travel abroad to study without a male guardian.

Hugo Shorter, Britain's Charge d'Affaires for Afghanistan, said in a Twitter post he had seen the Taliban's statement about the travel change.

"This would be an unacceptable restriction on freedom of movement," Shorter said, according to The National News March 1.

"I ask the Taliban to immediately clarify their statement," Shorter continued.

It was not immediately clear whether the plan would hinder work by governments and international organizations to relocate the thousands of Afghans who have worked with foreign embassies, the military and the project. And qualify for asylum in western countries but still in Afghanistan.

"We will not allow Afghans to leave the country unless their destination is known," Mujahid said.

He said the travel restrictions would apply to Afghans working with NATO and American forces, but did not specify under what circumstances, if any, they could leave.

Mujahid blamed poor conditions in countries where some Afghans are being held, while their visas were processed after thousands were transferred, sometimes without final visas, by withdrawing foreign troops after the Taliban takeover in August.

To note, regular evacuation flights organized by the US via Qatar were largely halted in December, due to disagreements by the Taliban government over who could board, sources told Reuters.

The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Taliban's latest restrictions and whether they would affect its evacuation plans.