Fact Check: Pakistani citizens are not lining up for visas at Afghanistan embassy

The Claim:

A large number of Pakistanis are applying for Afghanistan visas because there is a lot of rush outside Afghanistan’s embassy in Islamabad.

The Fact:

The people seen in the video are Afghan nationals visiting their embassy for their documentational issues.

The Story:

Former spokesperson of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Punjab) Shahbaz Gill has posted a video on X, formerly Twitter, with the caption “You will be surprised that it is not a rush of visa seekers to visit any European country. It is a crowd of Pakistanis seeking visas to travel to Afghanistan who have gathered on the street outside the Afghan embassy. These scenes will be seen outside the Afghan Embassy from seven o’clock in the morning”.

Gill’s story does not hold much ground, as Afghan embassies and consulates have historically received a high footfall from Afghan citizens. Pakistan hosts millions of Afghan refugees who frequent these buildings for the renewal and correction of their documentation.

Of late, the Embassy of Afghanistan, now under the control of the Taliban interim government, has also begun offering to renew passports and documents for its citizens in Islamabad. Due to this, Afghan nationals can be seen forming long queues and waiting across the road and on the green belts outside the embassy in sector F7 of Islamabad.

Even in the video, no one displays a sense of urgency or discomfort, which indicates that it is not a reaction to a frightening event, but rather a routine exercise.

The Spread:

The post has garnered a variety of reactions. Examples of the comments and quotes can be seen here, here, here, here, here and here.

The Verdict:

A reporter of HUM News physically interviewed the individuals outside the embassy to verify their citizenship. They were all Afghan nationals, awaiting an appointment for documents related issues mostly pertaining to travel.

Shehbaz Gill’s claim can be safely categorised as false.