KUWAIT CITY, Oct 24: The Ministry of Interior on Sunday cancelled nearly 500 visit visas which were issued to the citizens of six countries — Syria, Iran, Yemen, Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan —  and stopped nearly 1,200 other such transactions which were being processed after a decision ‘suspending’ the issuance of visit visas to citizens of these six countries was issued, reports Al-Rai daily.

Sources say the suspension decision was issued just 24 hours after the decision allowing the citizens of these countries to visit Kuwait was issued.

Explaining the whole process, sources said acting Assistant Undersecretary Saif Al-Saif, acting on the directives of Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud, issued a decision allowing the issuance of commercial visas to citizens of the above-mentioned countries. This was only to allow the entry of doctors and other qualified professionals; however, since the instructions were not clear, other applications too were accepted. “And when the issue became clearer, all transactions were stopped,” said sources.

Earlier this week, an Interior Ministry source told the Arab Times the issuance of visit visas was being streamlined and such visas would only be issued to first-degree relatives of people in certain categories. The ministry is reported to be still working out the details.

Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Passports and Citizenship Affairs at the ministry Major General Abdullah Al-Rashid met Director General of the Immigration General Department Major General Kamel Al-Awadi Monday to discuss the issue, said sources.

Meanwhile, Al-Humoud issued a decision, appointing Major General Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud as assistant undersecretary for the affairs of Deputy Premier’s Office.