India is a must-visit for tourists, vacationers and fun-seekers from all over the world. For many Afghans, however, India is an ideal destination for medical treatment, education and business. In almost every flight of the Indian Airlines and the Ariana Afghan Airline between Kabul and New Delhi, dozens of passengers are diseased Afghan men and women, young students and entrepreneurs for whom India is the only gate to an advanced world.
India and Indians have a positive image among Afghan populace. The famous Bollywood stars, the fabulous Indian music, the well-known Gandhian nonviolence, the historic friendly ties between Afghan and Indians, the great Indian civilization and the Indian spice are basic understandings of India among most Afghans. Having been tormented by their aggressive neighboring states, most Afghans also admire India for playing a rather constructive role in the recent history of their country. Afghanistan’s first-ever democratically elected president – Hamid Karzai – was educated in Shimla, and has visited New Delhi more than any other capital in his seven-year tenure.
Prior to my first visit to India in 2007, I was thinking my positive mindset about the country would be strengthened when I mingle with the Indians in their homeland. Sad to say, it did not happen according to my expectations.
Upon arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in a recent trip, I was segregated from other passengers at the immigration point due to my Afghan passport. When I handed over my passport at the arrival counter, the immigration officer unexpectedly turned rude and inquisitive. It took him 20 minutes to stamp my passport for entry.
The Indian Embassy in Kabul had typed in the visa that I must register at the police within seven days of my arrival.
My understanding was I should appear to any police station and present my passport and other supportive documents for the registration. It was not the case though.
There is only one location in New Delhi where Afghans and other third-class citizens of the world are registered. There is no help and/or guidance on how and what time one should appear at the registration office, and what documents should be presented; one needs to be extra intelligent and sharp to quickly access the office.
The registration office is chaotic, insulting and disappointing! One has to spend a whole day - 5am to 4pm - in the long queues and tolerate abusive language in order to be registered only for arrival! Prior to departure, the same stringent procedure has to be practiced again.
As I went through the registration process, I increasingly felt as if I am a Palestinian visitor in an Israeli territory and have to prove that I would cause no harm.
It was particularly offending to see elderly people, women, children and diseased people languishing in the hot weather outside the registration office where few seats, no drinking water, toilets and other facilities are available.
Farhad Darya – Afghanistan’s iconic and internationally-recognized singer – was also forced to this humiliating registration in 2007, a friend told me.
Afghans also receive their final humiliating treatment when they get through the airport immigration at the departure where they are supposed to present a bundle of papers and documents in addition to their passports.
An Afghan passport is a ‘license for trouble’ everywhere in the world, based on my travel experience.
However, neither in Europe nor in Asian counties I have experienced the kind of degrading registration as I did in India.
Apparently Indian national security is the main rationale for the stringent registration process of Afghan passport holders, but it is wise for New Delhi to ponder its long-term side effects as well. There should be humane alternatives to the existing chaotic and humiliating registration or the positive and friendly Indian’s image will gradually fade away among most Afghans.
[ENDS]
India and Indians have a positive image among Afghan populace. The famous Bollywood stars, the fabulous Indian music, the well-known Gandhian nonviolence, the historic friendly ties between Afghan and Indians, the great Indian civilization and the Indian spice are basic understandings of India among most Afghans. Having been tormented by their aggressive neighboring states, most Afghans also admire India for playing a rather constructive role in the recent history of their country. Afghanistan’s first-ever democratically elected president – Hamid Karzai – was educated in Shimla, and has visited New Delhi more than any other capital in his seven-year tenure.
Prior to my first visit to India in 2007, I was thinking my positive mindset about the country would be strengthened when I mingle with the Indians in their homeland. Sad to say, it did not happen according to my expectations.
Upon arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in a recent trip, I was segregated from other passengers at the immigration point due to my Afghan passport. When I handed over my passport at the arrival counter, the immigration officer unexpectedly turned rude and inquisitive. It took him 20 minutes to stamp my passport for entry.
The Indian Embassy in Kabul had typed in the visa that I must register at the police within seven days of my arrival.
My understanding was I should appear to any police station and present my passport and other supportive documents for the registration. It was not the case though.
There is only one location in New Delhi where Afghans and other third-class citizens of the world are registered. There is no help and/or guidance on how and what time one should appear at the registration office, and what documents should be presented; one needs to be extra intelligent and sharp to quickly access the office.
The registration office is chaotic, insulting and disappointing! One has to spend a whole day - 5am to 4pm - in the long queues and tolerate abusive language in order to be registered only for arrival! Prior to departure, the same stringent procedure has to be practiced again.
As I went through the registration process, I increasingly felt as if I am a Palestinian visitor in an Israeli territory and have to prove that I would cause no harm.
It was particularly offending to see elderly people, women, children and diseased people languishing in the hot weather outside the registration office where few seats, no drinking water, toilets and other facilities are available.
Farhad Darya – Afghanistan’s iconic and internationally-recognized singer – was also forced to this humiliating registration in 2007, a friend told me.
Afghans also receive their final humiliating treatment when they get through the airport immigration at the departure where they are supposed to present a bundle of papers and documents in addition to their passports.
An Afghan passport is a ‘license for trouble’ everywhere in the world, based on my travel experience.
However, neither in Europe nor in Asian counties I have experienced the kind of degrading registration as I did in India.
Apparently Indian national security is the main rationale for the stringent registration process of Afghan passport holders, but it is wise for New Delhi to ponder its long-term side effects as well. There should be humane alternatives to the existing chaotic and humiliating registration or the positive and friendly Indian’s image will gradually fade away among most Afghans.
[ENDS]
4 comments:
An Afghan passport is a personal black book you intentionally obtain for yourself to be confined in the territory and be kicked off from anywhere you apply for visa.
I was there in Pune for 5 days among afghan students & i face two reasons regarding India's behavior toward Afghans.
1- Most of Afghan students showing their bad behavior by fighting, killing, and stealing in India. Even they know that they represent their country and culture. Also our good Afghan them call them virus and they even don't want to live with their own Afghans.
2- India has some cases that Pakistani citizens has taken Afghan passport.
Who are these Talibans? The people of Afghanistan. Without people support it would not have been Taliban. Although India bears good image of Afghan people but if one analyze the past, one can easily conclude that after all they are Muslims and no any way different from Pakistanis or all other Muslims in the world. I would say that they should not even be given visa to India. They have been living trouble for world for decades.
i faced the same problem during my travel to india . upon recieving my visa from indian Embassy i recieved a registration form as well . in it the name of registration office which is (FRRO) was not mentioned .besides there was not any instruction and information describing the procedure even it is not mentioned that not only registration is but also exit permision from the same office is required too. and since i knew nothing about the rule i registered myself in Mumbai rather than in Delhi. and it was the time when my trouble started .
and when i applied for exit permission in Delhi after constantly staying in the queue for two days . they rejected my exit and said that i was to get permission from Mumbai.and i had to travel to Mumbai to get my permission there they said i should bring some approvel from Home Minstry Delhi to approve that i stayed in Delhi
anyway it take me almost 18 days to finally got my exit from Mumbi.
actually it was the horrible momory of my life .
i used to have a good image of india and Indians but now i assume that they are all cowerd they dont know the friendship. there is too much poverty in india and it is very dirty country .
i suggest you brother and sister not travel to that country again.
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