Afghan students in India are feeling abandoned as the Indian government restricts visas, making it difficult for them to continue their studies in the country. Since August 2021, when the Taliban took over Afghanistan, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs cancelled all existing visas, including student visas, for Afghan nationals. The Indian government instead directed Afghans to apply under an e-visa programme, but this is only valid for six months and granted in rare circumstances. Last year, e-visas were given to only 300 Afghans. Azimi, one of the affected students, was admitted to a postgraduate programme in January 2021 under a scholarship provided by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations but has not been able to pursue her studies due to visa issues. While she has been taking online classes in the meantime, her results are still pending, and the internet is frequently choppy. Several other Afghan students have been stuck in similar situations, and many of them have applied to universities elsewhere, including in Europe, Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan.
Afghanistan’s economy has ground to a halt amid international sanctions, and women’s education in the country has become almost impossible as the Taliban has banned girls from schools and imposed curbs on their employment. This makes it all the more important for Afghans to be able to pursue higher education overseas. Thousands of Afghan students have been studying in various universities across India, but many have not been able to continue their education due to visa issues. The Indian government needs to offer clear and practical solutions for Afghan students who have been facing these issues.
