Fear of ‘dark days’ grips ex-Afghan students

Kritika Kanwar

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 16

Zahid Amiri (name changed), a former student of the Department of Economics, PU, used to stay in Sector 15, Chandigarh. He secured a coveted post in a ministry and was posted at a remote province of Afghanistan.

He came to India on a scholarship and would often sit at the AC Joshi Library for hours. He had to work twice as hard as his Indian counterparts to secure a decent score in his masters. However, now as the Taliban tear through their country, he may have to give up on his dreams and his post too. A father to three sons, he has now left Takhan province with his family and taken refuge somewhere, a place safe so far.

Will he go back to his province now? He says not anytime soon. “I have applied for the Indian visa. I hope I get it soon. With kids, it’s more difficult. Taliban militia is ruthless. Though they claim that they won’t kill civilians, it seems to be a mere eyewash. We have hopes from the transitional government. Even if they allow us to work at government offices, things will not be the same for us. We will be under scrutiny always. Their idea of education is quite different. Before the takeover, there were many women working at higher posts in Kabul, which will be a bleak possibility now. Things were slightly better when the US troops were here. We at least had some basic human rights”

Zehra (name changed) passed out from the PU Department of Economics in 2013 and made it to the USA later. She belongs to the Herat province and has five siblings back in Herat. Apprehensive for her sisters, she says: “I am worried they would never be able to study and come out of Herat like me. Afghanistan would again witness the barbaric era as it used to be 20 years ago. Teenage girls are more at threat. Their life will be reduced to nothing but hell.”

Another student Younus Amiri (name changed) who did Mphil from the PU says: “I have applied for admission to the PTU. If the new government does not recognise my degree and fails to give a job, I will come to India for higher education or move to another country for job. It is not possible to stay here with no right to speech and no right to live on our terms. I will soon leave the country if the Taliban resorts to its old regressive ways.” “The situation regarding girls and women is unclear. They have promised to allow girls to study and not disturb the civilians, but it remains to be seen. The Taliban leaders announced yesterday not to hamper any kind of regular activity of students, so let us see what is there in store for women,” he added.

Younus Amiri, another PU research scholar, currently in Kabul, says, “These are tough times, but I will trust the transitional government and wait for further developments. I am hopeful that the new government will allow girls to school and not interfere in our freedom of speech and improved lifestyle. It is too early to say anything. I am not leaving my country anytime soon.”