Pratibha Raman/Bengaluru

While the Taliban is busy cobbling its government to rule over Afghanistan after 20 years, the Afghan students in India are a worried lot.

Around 15 students are pursuing their Master’s Degree in Research and Development at the Dharwad Agricultural University in Karnataka. With the rise in COVID infection, 5 students had left for Afghanistan due to lack of classes. The remaining 10 students are currently residing at the Dharwad Agricultural Vivi Hostel. 

“We were scared initially. I spoke to my family. They are safe. The Taliban has promised not to exact revenge. We are praying,” said Paramvir, an Afghanistan student studying in Dharwad.

Around 92 Afghan students met the Vice-Chancellor of the Mysore University post the Taliban takeover to speak about the issue. 

Professor Hemanth Kumar, VC, said, "What has happened in Afghanistan has already happened. We cannot control it. But we will try our best to protect our students. As long as these students are in the university, we will respond to their difficulties. I want them to concentrate on their studies until their visas expire. We will also discuss extending the term of their visas."

Some students in Bengaluru came together to seek the help of the Indian government after the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

“Taliban has said that they would ensure women’s rights are protected. The Human Rights Declaration has also stressed on the Taliban giving importance to women’s rights. Otherwise, we don’t want to accept the Taliban as an independent government. We want to be here in India till the situation gets back to normal there. We hope our visa gets extended if need be,” said Shila Azimi, a student from Afghanistan studying in Bengaluru. 

24-year-old Sharif Ahmadzai has been in Bengaluru for the last 4 years. “The city and its people have always treated me like I'm one of their own. I've never felt like an outsider here. I have immense respect and love for India and I'm hopeful that the Indian government will stand with Afghanistan during this difficult situation,” he said.

Ahmadzai’s family is stuck in Kabul. “They're safe, but they aren't moving out of the house. It's like a lockdown situation. I came to Bengaluru to study so that I could go back to my homeland and serve the people of my country. Unfortunately, the condition there is so bad right now; we’re scared thinking whether the condition there will drift to how it was 25 years ago. We won't be able to freely serve our country and our people and it is extremely disheartening,” he added.

Though, Zabihullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesperson, had told media persons in Kabul on Tuesday that the group had changed from what people saw it as 20 years ago, Ahmadzai begs to differ.

He said, “The Taliban always promises and eventually breaks those promises. This time again, they've been claiming to have changed. However, if they break this promise, and if they take away the rights of Afghans, the people of Afghanistan will stand against them and fight for the country.”