ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan is becoming increasingly isolated from the international community under the Taliban, prominent Afghan journalist Sami Yousafzai said, arguing that restrictions on travel, work, education and international engagement are leaving ordinary Afghans facing closed doors around the world.
In a strongly worded post on social media, Yousafzai accused the Taliban of effectively cutting Afghanistan off from the global community and warned that Afghans were increasingly being viewed through the lens of the Taliban government.
“Governments have closed the doors of the world to Afghans one after another,” Yousafzai said, referring to what he described as tightening visa restrictions and growing barriers facing Afghan passport holders.
He cited restrictions or difficulties involving countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Iran, India, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkey, while also pointing to obstacles facing Afghans seeking access to Europe and the United States.
However, visa policies vary by country and purpose, and some countries continue to provide mechanisms for Afghan nationals to apply for visas. Pakistan, for example, maintains specific visa categories for Afghan nationals, including business, study, employment and medical purposes, although Islamabad has also tightened measures against Afghans staying without valid visas.
Yousafzai nevertheless argued that the cumulative effect of such restrictions was leaving Afghans with increasingly limited options for international travel, medical treatment, education and employment.
“Afghanistan and Afghans must not, because of you, become so isolated that an Afghan faces a ‘no’ at every door of the world,” he said, addressing the Taliban.
His comments come as the Taliban government faces continued international concerns over its policies and its limited diplomatic engagement with much of the world since returning to power in 2021.
The latest setback came this week when Washington rejected a Taliban invitation for U.S. investment in Afghanistan’s mining and other sectors. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Washington did not intend to engage with the Taliban over developing Afghanistan’s critical minerals.
The Taliban had recently sought U.S. investment in areas including mining, infrastructure and agriculture, as Kabul seeks greater foreign economic engagement and access to international financial resources.
Meanwhile, the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls, along with broader concerns over human rights and political inclusivity, continue to complicate efforts to establish wider international relations.
Yousafzai said Afghanistan should not be treated as an isolated or “ownerless island,” stressing that Afghans have the right to maintain normal relations with the outside world.
“Afghanistan is a part of the world,” he said, calling for greater access for Afghans to travel, education, employment and international engagement.
