Afghan journalist Sami Yousafzai has said that, due to the Taliban’s negative policies, Afghanistan is gradually becoming isolated from the rest of the world, while opportunities for Afghan citizens to travel abroad, pursue education, seek employment and access medical treatment are becoming increasingly limited.
In a post on the social media platform X, Yousafzai referred to the visa policies of various countries, saying that Saudi Arabia has also imposed restrictions on Umrah visas for Afghan citizens. He further claimed that the United Arab Emirates, including Dubai, has imposed strict restrictions on tourist visas for Afghan nationals.
He cited Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Iran, India, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkey, claiming that Afghan nationals face varying degrees of visa restrictions in these countries. Yousafzai also criticised what he described as difficulties faced by Afghans seeking to travel abroad for tourism, employment, education and medical treatment. “Where will an Afghan go in the end for travel, tourism, medical treatment, and healing?” he asked. He argued that Afghans should not be isolated from the international community because of the policies of the Taliban.
“The homeland is not a prison for the people; the homeland is the home of a nation,” Yousafzai said, urging the Taliban to ensure that Afghanistan maintains normal relations with the rest of the world. He further said Afghans have the right to maintain international ties and access opportunities for travel, education and employment. Yousafzai’s remarks come amid ongoing concerns over Afghanistan’s international isolation and the impact of Taliban policies on the country’s engagement with the outside world.