KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban-controlled passport department reports that approximately AFN 1.844 billion ($26 million) has been generated from issuing passports over the past two months.
In a social media post on Wednesday, March 13, Noorullah Patman, the spokesperson for the passport department, said that during the past two solar months, the department has issued over 300,000 passports to Afghan citizens both within and outside the country.
The Taliban halted passport issuance shortly after their return to power on August 15, after tens of thousands of people rushed to Kabul International Airport, hoping to catch any available international flights for evacuation.
In October 2022, the Taliban authorities reopened the passport office in Kabul. However, they suspended operations just days later due to a flood of applications, which caused the biometric system to break down.
The Taliban, not recognized by any countries, has not yet produced its own passport and still issues them under the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan banner.
Although Afghanistan’s passport is ranked as one of the weakest in the world, it has become a lucrative revenue source for Taliban authorities and a rare commodity for its people who desperately try to leave the destitute country.
Before the Taliban came to power, the passport distribution process was quite normal, and any applicant could easily obtain their passport within two to three working days. However, following the Taliban’s control over the distribution process, millions of individuals encountered significant challenges in obtaining the document.
Desperate Afghans, needing passports for medical emergencies or to flee the country have to face significant challenges. In addition to paying substantial fees, they endure months of struggle, beatings, and insults while waiting to obtain one.
The Taliban’s treatment of applicants has consistently been inhumane and devoid of dignity. Fighters, who have spent years in remote mountainous regions, away from mainstream society, often struggle to establish communication and effectively manage people.
Over the past year, the Taliban has intermittently halted the distribution of passports in various provinces of Afghanistan. However, local sources previously told KabulNow that the sale of passports in the black market persisted at exorbitant prices, ranging from $2,500 to $4,000 per passport.
