J&K teachers in Kabul seek immediate evacuation

Two Kashmiris teaching at Bakhtar University in Kabul have requested for immediate evacuation, saying the city is peaceful as of now but uncertainty looms large as events unfolded unexpectedly. Asif Ahmed and Adil Rasool, from Kulgam, have been teaching at the university for the past few years.

After giving online lectures for several months from Kashmir due to the pandemic, they went to Kabul in July for the scheduled semester examinations of students. “There is peace in the city and there was no bloodshed, but there is uncertainty,” Ahmed told ET from Kabul over phone.

“We were working in the university till last Saturday, but for the last three days things have unfolded in an unprecedented manner. There is peace in the city and there was no bloodshed, as most of the people expected, but there is uncertainty,” Dr Asif told ET from Kabul over phone. He is staying inside the university along with Rasool and his wife.


They have now made a WhatsApp group, through which Indians stuck in Kabul are connected with each other. “As of now we have more than 30 members in this group, who are working in different organizations in Kabul. Some members have added officials from the Indian embassy in the group as well to remain updated about the possible evacuation,” he adds.

They had also booked an Air India flight for Sunday and Monday, but they couldn't get any success and now he keeps re-booking the Air India flights. “As per local media 450 flights took off from Kabul to different countries on Sunday and 150 on Monday. Afghanistan and India had good relations, we hope we are evacuated soon,” said Dr Asif, who teaches economics in the university.

They claim that as of now Taliban hasn't entered or interfered with the functioning of hostels and the campus and there is no dearth of food and other items as well. “We haven’t moved out since Sunday as this campus is huge and we have all the facilities here, besides, we had stored food earlier as is our routine in Kashmir,” said Dr Asif.

Their families in Kashmir have made fervent appeals to the administration to bring them back immediately. The Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Manoj Sinha has assured them of all help and committed that they would be home soon. "Spoke to MoS Foreign Affairs, Shri V Muraleedharan Ji for immediate evacuation of professors from Kulgam teaching at Bakhtar University in Kabul.He has assured the government is committed to bring back every citizen safely as soon as possible, " Sinha tweeted. "I assure the families of Prof Asif Ahmed and Prof Adil Rasool that they are safe and will be home soon,” he said.