Afghanistan crisis
JNU students from Afghanistan seek visa extension as Taliban takes over : Report
New Delhi/IBNS: Several Afghan students studying in Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) are unwilling to return to their country and want to extend their visas by enrolling in academic courses, according to a media report.
The visas of most of the students will expire in December and do not wish to return to Afghanistan, which was taken over by Taliban terrorists after large scale violence and bloodshed, news agency ANI reported.
They want to extend their visas through admission in courses such as a PhD.
"For a war-torn country like Afghanistan, most of the people are extensively unemployed and trying to escape from either death or captivity. Arranging a 'hefty fee' seems impossible," said Afghan students in JNU while talking to ANI.
The terminal students need to leave the hostel by September 23, the report said, adding that with little financial means they are worried about their accommodation,according to the report.
Jalaluddin, a JNU student, told ANI that PhD in JNU is highly expensive for foreign nationals, and it may not be a solution for poor families.
He hoped that amid the extremely critical situation the Indian administration would understand the situation of Afghan students and extend their visa permit.
However, visa permit cannot be extended if the passport renewal date is around the same time of visa expiry, the report sated citing sources.
Another student of International Relations and Area studies, Shafiq Sultan, whose visa is valid till December 31, told ANI that he was a government employee before he came to India to study and he is sure the Taliban would capture him if he returned. He also said that his family is staying in the area captured by Taliban and he has not been able to contact his family for one and a half weeks.
Citing the grave situation, he urged for help to stay in India.
Ali Asghar, an Afghan student at JNU, whose visa is going to expire in the next three months said that his father has told him to stay back in the current situation but the fee structure for foreign students is extremely high which his family cannot bear as his family is completely unemployed, reported ANI.
Accoordingt to the report, JNU administration released a press note on August 14 stating "Some Afghan students of JNU have requested the JNU administration to facilitate their return to the Campus. As the University has remained closed as per the latest Circular issued by the DDMA, Govt. of NCT, Delhi, this matter is currently being looked into."
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