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A popular woman travel vlogger from Kerala with 6 years of hitchhiking experience, who has been travelling across Afghanistan and sharing videos from the country, on Monday claimed that she was "arrested" by the "Mujahideen" in Bamyan, which led her to seek help by contacting the Indian embassy. However, nearly three hours after posting an SOS message, the vlogger said she was allowed to leave after settling with Taliban members.
Kerala's Travel Vlogger was Detained in Afghanistan
In a post on her Facebook page, 'Backpacker Arunima', she shared what she described as a translation of an official communication. The message reportedly said, "You were arrested by the Mujahideen just now because you do not have an official letter."
Arunima wrote that she was in trouble in Afghanistan and was in Bamyan. Her initial post did not give details about the circumstances of her alleged arrest or identify the people who had detained her. Indian officials in Kabul and New Delhi also did not provide any update about the alleged arrest. Later, in a detailed social media post, Arunima said she had been released and explained what happened between her SOS message and her release. According to her, authorities in Bamyan told her that under the laws of the country, women cannot travel alone. They said she had violated the rules and would be arrested.
Kerala's Travel Vlogger Faced Hurdles in Afghanistan
Arunima said her "crime" was travelling alone as a woman. She claimed that a permit was required to travel to every province, but she had not obtained the permits because officials would not issue them to a woman travelling alone. She also added she had earlier been denied a permit in Jalalabad for the same reason. After becoming frightened, she contacted a man who had previously helped her reach Bamyan. He spoke to the authorities on her behalf, she said.
The Mujahideen reportedly insisted that she obtain a permit and travel with a guide. Arunima said she was eventually allowed to continue towards her next destination after discussions with them.
She told the authorities that she was leaving Afghanistan and travelling to Uzbekistan. According to her, they said she had stayed in the country for several days while violating the rules and therefore had to pay a fine before leaving. She said she negotiated with them and eventually settled the matter. The authorities then allowed her to travel to the next country without a permit.
Arunima said she faced restrictions and detentions because she was a woman, while her male friends had travelled through Afghanistan without similar problems. She added that some of her female friends had also visited the country, but they travelled with a guide or alongside a man.
Describing the experience, she said the decisions of the Taliban members effectively function as the laws there. She added that there was no conventional police or prison system involved in the situation she faced.
Arunima said she begged the man who was helping her and was eventually not arrested. She described the few hours as extremely stressful, saying she was frightened and felt that something might happen to her.
The vlogger, who has travelled alone to several countries, entered Afghanistan several weeks ago and has regularly shared updates from her journey. According to her social media posts, she chose to wear a purdah during most of her travels in Afghanistan to make her journey easier. She also said that Taliban members had stopped her for checks and questioned her several times during her journey through the country.