Taliban siege: Afghans in India feel helpless for their kin, friends back home

"I would request the Indian government to ease visa norms so that those Afghanis who want to come to India can come easily," said Sadat, who runs a guest house for people coming from Afghanistan. As the Taliban set to capture Kabul after taking control of swathes of Afghanistan, the Afghans in India are going through some sleepless nights and want the people back home to leave the warzone to save their lives. A story by Mohd Tauseef.

New Delhi: Twenty-five-year-old Omid was a commando in Afghanistan Army for 10 years. He is now making shawarma rolls and burgers at Lajpat market in New Delhi. As the Taliban looks set to capture Kabul after taking control of swathes of Afghanistan, the Afghans in India are worried about their family members, relatives and friends who are stranded and want to leave the warzone to save their lives.

Omid Sirat, who came to Lajpat Nagar a few months back, rues the worsening situation in Afghanistan. "All my friends were martyred while fighting with Talibanis," Omid, who used to live in Takhar province, said.

"Escaping from the war zone was the only option left to save my life," he added. The former commando said he started making shawarma rolls and burgers as he was not getting any other job. "I get around Rs 300 daily and will work until I get a better job." Omid is in a dilemma about his future.

"I will urge the Government of India to discuss with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) officials so that our names could be registered and we could be resettled in the countries like Norway, the US, Canada or Australia as all these countries accept the refugees," he added. Sayed Nadeem Sadat counted the number of provinces that have been captured by the Taliban. "The situation is getting worse out there," Sadat said.

"I would request the Indian government to ease visa norms so that those Afghanis who want to come to India can come easily." Sadat, who runs a guest house for people coming from Afghanistan, said.

"We are not asking for permanent residency, but only on a temporary basis. They will go back to Afghanistan as and when the situation normalizes." Sayed Nadeem Sadat put the blame squarely on Pakistan for the current situation. "The boundaries of Afghanistan are not fenced like India and the terrorists easily enter our country from the Torkham border," according to Sadat.

"My friends who live in Takhar, Jawzjan and Nimroz are being beaten by Talibanis and their sisters and daughters are being molested," the 30-year-old added.

Ali Ahmad, a resident of Kabul, has been living in New Delhi for the last four years. Ahmad's relatives want to come to India, but the visa prices have gone up to Rs 74,000. "A person who is earning less than Rs 100 can't arrange such money to get visa and move out of Afghanistan to save his life," he said.

Ahmad feels helpless for his relatives and friends being persecuted and attacked by Talibanis in Afghanistan.

"Pakistan is oppressing the people in Afghanistan and the United States which has been saying that they are helping the people of Afghanistan, is totally lying," he added. Ahmad said that no other country except India had helped the people of his country. "The US and Pakistan have only cheated us."