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Afghanistan: Whether the government is issuing a new one-page ID card; whether this new card is available in Mazar-e Sharif, Balkh Province

The Research Directorate did not find any references to a new one-page Afghan identity card issued in Mazar-e Sharif, or other regions, among sources consulted for this Response. The following information concerning the taskera identity document updates information provided in AFG32690.E of 26 August 1999, AFG29678.E of 14 July 1998, AFG28173.E of 27 November 1997 and AFG27853.E of 21 November 1997 and may be of interest.

The 16-page taskera (taskira), established in 1973, is considered the official identity card of Afghanistan (PGI n.d.), and is referred to by the United States Department of State (DOS) as the "most universal and accurate document in Afghanistan" (US 10 Sept. 2002). The document specifies individuals' religious affiliation (PGI n.d.), their father's and their paternal grandfather's names, their reported or estimated date of birth and their marital status (US 10 Sept. 2002).

The organization Prevent Genocide International (PGI) noted that the establishment of the Interim Afghan Authority after November 2001 had an unknown effect on the inclusion of religious affiliation in the taskera document (PGI n.d.). The Department of State's Visa Reciprocity and Country Document Finder also noted in passing that political party cards, which were issued by seven different Afghan groups, were thought to have superseded the taskera (US 10 Sept. 2002). This source provides no other information concerning these "party cards;" however, the DOS' Foreign Affairs Manual noted that the same information concerning party cards as that found in the Visa Reciprocity and Country Document Finder report was last updated on 12 January 1998 (ibid. 22 Oct. 2002, 4). The Research Directorate found no other mention of these documents among sources consulted.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Prevent Genocide International (PGI). n.d. "Global Survey of Group Classification on National ID Cards: Afghanistan." <http://www.preventgenocide.org/prevent/removing-facilitating-factors/Idcards/survey/index.htm> [Accessed 3 Dec. 2002]

Although undated, this document refers to the December 2001 establishment of the interim government in Afghanistan.

United States. 22 October 2002. Department of State. Foreign Affairs Manual. Vol. 9. "9FAM Appendix C, Afghanistan." <http://foia.state.gov/masterdocs/09fam/09Cafghanistan.pdf> [Accessed 3 Dec. 2002]

_____. 10 September 2002. Department of State. Visa Reciprocity and Country Documents Finder. "Afghanistan." <http://travel.state.gov/reciprocity/Country%20Folder/A/Afghanistan.htm> [Accessed 3 Dec. 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

Unsuccessful attempt to contact the Embassy of Afghanistan, Washington, D.C.

Internet sites including:

Adjudicative Desk Reference

Afghan Embassy Online

Afghan Information Centre

Afghan Law

Asylumsupport.info

Department of State

European Country of Origin Information Network

Global Policy Forum

Travel Document Systems

United Nations

United States. Social Security Agency

Visa Law, Immigration Portal

World Immigration and Deportation

World News Connection