Taliban Passports No Longer Valid

R 100001Z MAY 02
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS
SPECIAL EMBASSY PROGRAM
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
AMEMBASSY KABUL
UNCLAS STATE 089019

VISAS - INFORM CONSULS
E.O. 12958: N/A
CVIS, CMGT, KFRD, AF 

SUBJECT: Taliban Passports No Longer Valid 

REFTEL: KABUL 742 (NOTAL) 

1. The Afghanistan Interim Administration (AIA) has determined that Afghan passports issued by offices under Taliban control are not rpt not valid. This includes passports issued from September 1996 through October 2001 inside Afghanistan, as well as those passports issued in Afghan consulates and embassies in Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, and Riyadh. (Note: The Taliban regime was formally recognized by the governments of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.) The Department has determined that visas should not/not be issued in these "Taliban" passports. Bearers of "Taliban" passports with valid U.S. visas may use these visas to enter the U.S. only if they possess a subsequently issued, valid AIA passport.

2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the AIA advises that passports issued by other Afghan embassies and consulates under the direction of the Northern Alliance before and during that 1996-2001 time period are considered valid. 

3. Despite anecdotal reports to the contrary, neither the Department nor our Embassy in Kabul has received word from the AIA of any requirement that Afghan passports issued prior to September 1996 need to be revalidated. Consuls may issue visas in all valid Afghan passports issued prior to September 1996. 

4. Minimize considered.

POWELL