'Return to your country' Kabul tells Afghans rebuffed by Washington / Photo: Wakil KOHSAR - AFP
-
Captain's injury agony mars 'emotional' Italy debut at T20 World Cup
-
Family matters: Thaksin's party down, maybe not out
-
African players in Europe: Ouattara fires another winner for Bees
-
Pressure grows on UK's Starmer over Epstein fallout
-
Music world mourns Ghana's Ebo Taylor, founding father of highlife
-
HK mogul's ex-workers 'broke down in tears' as they watched sentencing
-
JD Vance set for Armenia, Azerbaijan trip
-
Sydney police deploy pepper spray as Israeli president's visit sparks protests
-
EU warns Meta it must open up WhatsApp to rival AI chatbots
-
Scotland spoil Italy's T20 World Cup debut with big win
-
Israeli president says 'we will overcome evil' at Bondi Beach
-
Munsey leads Scotland to 207-4 against Italy at T20 World Cup
-
Japan restarts world's biggest nuclear plant again
-
Bangladesh poll rivals rally on final day of campaign
-
Third impeachment case filed against Philippine VP Duterte
-
Wallaby winger Nawaqanitawase heads to Japan
-
Thailand's Anutin rides wave of nationalism to election victory
-
Venezuela's Machado says ally kidnapped by armed men after his release
-
Maye longs for do-over as record Super Bowl bid ends in misery
-
Seahawks' Walker rushes to Super Bowl MVP honors
-
Darnold basks in 'special journey' to Super Bowl glory
-
Japan's Takaichi may struggle to soothe voters and markets
-
Seahawks soar to Super Bowl win over Patriots
-
'Want to go home': Indonesian crew abandoned off Africa demand wages
-
Asian stocks track Wall St rally as Tokyo hits record on Takaichi win
-
Bad Bunny celebrates Puerto Rico in joyous Super Bowl halftime show
-
Three prominent opposition figures released in Venezuela
-
Israeli president says 'we shall overcome this evil' at Bondi Beach
-
'Flood' of disinformation ahead of Bangladesh election
-
Arguments to begin in key US social media addiction trial
-
UK-Based Vesalic Limited Emerges from Stealth with Landmark Discovery of Potential Non-CNS Driver of Motor Neuron Diseases, including ALS, and Breakthrough Therapeutic and Diagnostic Opportunities
-
Gotterup tops Matsuyama in playoff to win Phoenix Open
-
New Zealand's Christchurch mosque killer appeals conviction
-
Leonard's 41 leads Clippers over T-Wolves, Knicks cruise
-
Trump says China's Xi to visit US 'toward the end of the year'
-
Real Madrid edge Valencia to stay on Barca's tail, Atletico slump
-
Malinin keeps USA golden in Olympic figure skating team event
-
Lebanon building collapse toll rises to 9: civil defence
-
Real Madrid keep pressure on Barca with tight win at Valencia
-
PSG trounce Marseille to move back top of Ligue 1
-
Hong Kong to sentence media mogul Jimmy Lai in national security trial
-
Lillard will try to match record with third NBA 3-Point title
-
Vonn breaks leg as crashes out in brutal end to Olympic dream
-
Malinin enters the fray as Japan lead USA in Olympics team skating
-
Thailand's Anutin readies for coalition talks after election win
-
Fans arrive for Patriots-Seahawks Super Bowl as politics swirl
-
'Send Help' repeats as N.America box office champ
-
Japan close gap on USA in Winter Olympics team skating event
-
Liverpool improvement not reflected in results, says Slot
-
Japan PM Takaichi basks in election triumph
NYSE - LSE
'Return to your country' Kabul tells Afghans rebuffed by Washington
The Taliban government on Saturday urged Afghans hoping to emigrate to the United States to instead return to Afghanistan, after Washington tightened entry conditions.
US President Donald Trump this week announced a travel ban targeting 12 countries, including Afghanistan, which his proclamation said lacked "competent" central authorities for processing passports and vetting.
Commenting on the ban on Saturday, Prime Minister Hassan Akhund urged Afghans to return to their country, saying they would be protected even if they worked with US-led forces in the two-decade fight against the Taliban insurgency.
"For those who are worried that America has closed its doors to Afghans... I want to tell them, 'Return to your country, even if you have served the Americans for 20 or 30 years for their ends, and ruined the Islamic system'," he said in a speech marking the Eid al-Adha holiday, broadcast by state media.
"You will not face abuse or trouble," he said, making reassurances that the Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada had "granted amnesty for all".
After surging to power in 2021, Taliban authorities announced a general amnesty for Afghans who worked with the Western-backed forces and government. However, the United Nations has recorded reports of extrajudicial killings, detentions and abuses.
In the past four years, the Taliban government has imposed a strict view of Islamic law and restrictions on women which the UN says amount to "gender apartheid".
Afghans fled in droves to neighbouring countries during decades of conflict, but the chaotic withdrawal of US-led troops saw a new wave clamouring to escape Taliban government curbs and fears of reprisal for working with Washington.
The United States has not had a working embassy in Afghanistan since 2021 and Afghans must apply for visas in third countries, principally Pakistan which has recently ramped up campaigns to expel Afghans.
Since Trump returned to the White House in January, Afghans have gradually seen their chances of migrating to the United States or staying there shrink.
Trump administration orders have disrupted refugee pathways and revoked legal protections temporarily shielding Afghans from deportation starting in July.
A.Santos--PC