NEW DELHI: A petition has been launched calling on the Indian government to expedite the visa process for Afghan students who have been stranded in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in August 2021. The petition highlights the plight of over 2,500 Afghan students who had been studying in India before the pandemic and were forced to return to their home country amid COVID-19 restrictions.
The petition states that despite the Indian government approving only about 200 visa applications from Afghanistan, mainly for Hindu and Sikh refugees fleeing religious persecution, not a single Afghan student has had their visa approved.
1. "Rhetoric about India's unwavering commitment to help the people of Afghanistan, doesn't match with the reality," ~ @raghavsharma83, prof. & scholar on Afghan studies, about India's denial of visas to Afghans.
✍️ @onibdadgar's petition with 1 click.https://t.co/NxQQg9rEiO pic.twitter.com/qxdLSGy1lu
— Change.org India (@ChangeOrg_India) June 28, 2023
The petition emphasizes that many Afghan students hold scholarships from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and were hoping to continue their higher education in India. However, with physical campuses reopened and online classes no longer available, these students face uncertainty and are unable to complete their studies. Some universities have already begun canceling the admissions of Afghan students due to their inability to return to campus and lack of attendance.
Challenges for Afghan Female Students
The petition highlights the challenges faced by Afghan female students, who had hoped to study and work in India and support their families back home. With the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s education and employment, these young women find themselves stranded and unable to pursue their aspirations. The petition questions why Afghan students, who had been studying in India prior to the Taliban takeover, are now perceived as security risks.
It also raises concerns over India’s engagement with the Taliban government, allowing their representatives to participate in online courses for foreign diplomats, while Afghan students remain unheard. The petition calls on India, as Afghanistan’s closest neighbor that upholds democracy, to fulfill its responsibility in ensuring that the next generation of Afghan citizens is equipped to bring about positive change.
The petition highlights the historical Indo-Afghan relations and expresses disappointment in India’s response during this challenging time. It calls on the Indian government, alongside other countries like Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, and Russia, to address the problems faced by Afghan students and help them continue their education. Given India’s aspirations to play a significant role in Afghanistan, the petition questions why visas are not being granted to Afghan students.
