Editorial: Foreign terrorists with Afghan passports

According to the passport registration department of the Ministry of the Interior, since 1995 a number of foreign nationals have acquired Afghan passports without regard for national or international regulations. They include Arabs, Pakistanis, Chechens and Uzbeks who had been engaged in criminal activities in their own countries and chose Afghanistan as a safe haven. According to the head of Interpol in Kabul, there are 1,000 foreign nationals with Afghan passports, and at least 800 of them are supporters of terrorism. Documents gathered by Interpol indicate that these individuals fled their countries because of criminal charges brought against them. The deputy attorney general says every country has its own laws with regard to granting citizenship to foreign nationals, but illegal acts are taken into consideration. He said that while people who act against the laws of the land should be investigated, this has not been done so far. Many of these people have purchased land and enjoy protection here, even though they are wanted by police in their own countries.