American diplomats have been instructed to stop processing visa applications for Afghans, affecting the 'Allies Welcome' program initiated by President Joe Biden.

The American administration has decided to suspend the processing of visa applications for Afghan citizens, according to a document from the State Department. This measure affects the 'Allies Welcome' immigration program, initiated by President Joe Biden to allow Afghans who collaborated with American forces to settle in the U.S. The telegram sent to diplomatic missions indicates that all visa applications from Afghan citizens, including those eligible for the special immigration program, will be rejected. Although already scheduled meetings will not be canceled, consular agents will have to refuse the issuance of visas. Additionally, all validated visas that have not been printed must be canceled, and those that have been printed must be destroyed. This suspension came in the context of a recent attack in Washington, in which a member of the National Guard was seriously injured.