IIT Extends Lifeline To Afghan Students

Sets Up Helpline To Facilitate Return To Campus

- Shradha Chettri

New Delhi: Abdul Gaffar, a doctorate scholar in civil engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, swears he is lucky to have reached Delhi nine days ago. With his home city, Herat in Afghanistan, caught in violence and uncertainty, he thought it more prudent to return to the campus with his wife and children. Luckily, his visa was valid and he made a timely exit.

Gaffar is one of the 16 Afghans pursuing studies at IIT-D and the only one who is now in Delhi. Given the escalation in the political situation in Afghanistan, the institution has quickly created a helpline number and email ID to facilitate the return of the other students.

Taha Aawar has been in touch with the IIT officials, having reached Kabul from Herat. He took admission in IIT-D in 2020. He submitted his passport to the Indian embassy on August 11, but the situation has completely changed now. He has now applied for an e-visa and hopes to catch an Indian evacuation flight.