Afghan students pursuing studies in India worried about their future

Harkanwar Kaur

Patiala, September 4

As the Taliban have taken over the control of Kabul, citizens of Afghanistan, who are presently living in Punjab are tense. Afghan students said the situation was under control, but there was no guarantee for how long it would remain so.

In all, 40 students from different provinces of Afghanistan are studying in Punjabi University, Patiala. They are pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

At present, 30 students are pursuing studies at university and the rest have completed their degrees this year.

These students are studying in India under the scholarship offered by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in which their fee is deposited by the Government of India and they get Rs20,000 per month as sustenance allowance. Students residing outside the university also given accommodation allowance of Rs5500.

“After the Taliban overtook control in Afghanistan, our dreams came to an end,” said Abdul Hadi Sharifi from Panjshir province in Afghanistan, who is pursuing Phd (Management) since 2019-20 at Punjabi University, in a depressing tone.

He mentioned that families were facing both mental and financial stress as they had lost all their earnings.

An Afghan student from Punjabi University, who did not wish to be named, said, “The Taliban did not impose any restrictions on people living in Kapisa province. People are free to go anywhere. Some complaints have poured in from residents of Kabul province, Mazar-i-Sharif district and Herat city about Taliban imposing a curb on wearing western clothes.”

“Also, the Taliban have told women workers to stay at home till the situation gets better. After that they can resume their work again,” he added.

Sebghatullah from Kapisa province in Afghanistan completed his postgraduation in public administration from Punjabi University recently. He said, “I am looking forward to placements and the university faculty and administration support in these bad times.”

“As of now, I have completed my degree. So, I will stop getting scholarship. There is an urgent need of an earning source to make both ends meet,” he added. “Now, to fulfil the aim we have to work harder than before,” he stressed.

Many students and their families are still in a state of shock due to the devastating situation in their parent country. Till now, they were behaving normally, but couldn’t assure what would happen in the future, said students.

Noor Ahmad, who is pursuing Masters in Business Administration (final year) at Punjabi University, said, “After the Taliban captured Kabul I talked to my family twice or thrice in a day. They are asking us to stay in India in a safe and peaceful environment.”

“The Taliban have intensified its attacks to take control of the Panjshir area where they are facing stiff resistance from Masood faction. People are scared and worried about their safety and future,” said another Afghan student, studying in Punjabi University.

“Our families will have to start from scratch to earn their living. Many members of our families have lost their jobs. Prices of eatables have increased. It will worsen the situation in the coming days,” said students.

Ranjit Kaur, Director, Department of Electronics, Punjabi University, is handling international students. She interacts with Afghan students regularly.

“We are trying our best to provide medical and financial aid to students from Afghanistan. We have requested the authorities of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to extend their scholarships till the situation gets better in their country,” she said.