March 29, 2024

Iscuk

International Student Club UK

British Embassy BLOCKED visas of 35 Afghan students made available scholarships to study in British isles

The British Embassy in Kabul has blocked the visas of 35 Afghan students who were provided scholarships to study in the Uk as the Taliban sweeps throughout their country.

The students have experienced their ‘dreams shattered’ immediately after they ended up told the embassy could no lengthier procedure their visas, meaning that they have lost the chance to go to universities in Britain.  

The youthful Afghans had been chosen among thousands of applicants for the prestigious Chevening scholarship, a British isles grant which features students from throughout the environment the prospect to study at Uk universities. 

But, just after a year-prolonged application method, the college students had been told that the British isles Overseas Workplace had made the decision with ‘deep regret’ to pause this year’s Chevening scholarship in Afghanistan. 

Sharif Safi, who was arranging on researching a Masters in peace, conflict and diplomacy at London Metropolitan College, instructed Sky News: ‘I’m still in shock. I am devastated just after the information. All my dreams have vanished.’ 

It comes as the Taliban continues to choose manage of substantial swaths of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US and NATO troops right after 20 years of armed forces functions. 

Sharif Safi, who was planning on studying a Masters in peace, conflict and diplomacy at London Metropolitan University, told Sky News : 'I'm still in shock. I'm devastated after the news. All my dreams have vanished'

Sharif Safi, who was arranging on finding out a Masters in peace, conflict and diplomacy at London Metropolitan College, instructed Sky Information : ‘I’m nonetheless in shock. I’m devastated right after the news. All my dreams have vanished’

It comes as the Taliban continues to take control of large swaths of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US and NATO troops after 20 years of military operations

It will come as the Taliban carries on to get management of big swaths of Afghanistan next the withdrawal of US and NATO troops following 20 yrs of armed service operations

The embassy letter, which was shared by previous Uk politician Rory Stewart on Twitter, read: ‘Current circumstances indicate that the British embassy in Kabul is not able to administer the areas of the programme that will have to be performed in Kabul in time for candidates to start their system this yr.’

The letter included: ‘The International, Commonwealth and Progress Business is very pleased of the job Chevening has played and will keep on to play in featuring Afghan students the option to research in the Uk and we remain fully commited to reinstating the programme as shortly as possible.

‘We would thus like to provide you a deferral right until the educational year 2022-2023.’

But Safi, who done a 5-hour-very long English exam in Kabul while struggling from Covid-19 for the scholarship, told Sky Information that he and the 34 other pupils like him had previously built options to research in the United kingdom this 12 months.   

He said: ‘Personally in my scenario I handed around my career and all my tasks in my organisation to an individual else.

‘I declined a job supply in an important diplomatic mission and I turned down numerous other academic alternatives just mainly because I opted for Chevening around any other chances.’

The go has prompted outrage, with previous Conservative cabinet ministers Rory Stewart and David Lidington calling on British isles International Secretary Dominic Raab to intervene.

The move has prompted outrage, with former Conservative cabinet ministers Rory Stewart and David Lidington calling on UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to intervene

The go has prompted outrage, with former Conservative cupboard ministers Rory Stewart and David Lidington contacting on Uk International Secretary Dominic Raab to intervene

The embassy letter, which was shared by former UK politician Rory Stewart on Twitter, read: 'Current circumstances mean that the British embassy in Kabul is unable to administer the parts of the programme that must be done in Kabul in time for candidates to begin their course this year'

The embassy letter, which was shared by previous United kingdom politician Rory Stewart on Twitter, read through: ‘Current circumstances signify that the British embassy in Kabul is not able to administer the areas of the programme that should be accomplished in Kabul in time for candidates to begin their study course this year’

Stewart tweeted: ‘Deeply disappointing to hear – on top rated of anything – that Afghans who been given Scholarships from the British isles governing administration to review in the British isles this year have now been instructed they will not be granted visas owing to ‘administration issues’. Absolutely a person can type this out?’

In the meantime, Lidington explained: ‘This determination looks the two morally incorrect & against British isles passions. Certainly all those accepted onto Chevening will be at distinct risk from Taliban & amid ‘brightest & best’ whom our federal government rightly wants to entice to United kingdom.

‘Hope Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab will evaluate urgently.’

Safi and other Afghans who were admitted on to the scholarship programme stated they had fulfilled British isles deputy ambassador in Kabul past 7 days and proposed to travel to a unique country to have their visas processed – at their personal expense – but that proposition was declined.

The pupils had also requested if they could start the study course on the net right until their visas could be processed, but they ended up told it was not doable.       

Safi stated: ‘Put your self in our put – you can see other Chevening scholars from all in excess of the world travelling to the British isles to get started their classes, but you, just simply because you reside in Afghanistan, just due to the fact you are an Afghan you have to bear the sorrow, you have to bear the disappointment.’

Naimatullah Zafary, who will work for the U.N. in Kabul, was organizing to research governance, growth and public policy at the College of Sussex, but now his hopes have been shattered. 

Zafary, 35, who has utilized for the scholarship for the past four a long time, said the news is ‘too tricky to describe’ following he was finally prosperous this time. 

Naimatullah Zafary, who works for the U.N. in Kabul, was planning to study governance, development and public policy at the University of Sussex, but now his hopes have been shattered

Naimatullah Zafary, who performs for the U.N. in Kabul, was preparing to research governance, progress and general public coverage at the College of Sussex, but now his hopes have been shattered

‘Imagine – 4 years of dreaming that you will make it, and this 12 months – ultimately in the fourth calendar year – you make it, and you get these kinds of email, such letter,’ he advised Sky News.

‘It’s way as well tough to explain in text. I are not able to sleep at night time.’ 

He extra:  ‘On July 15 I received a final email from my programme officer in the United kingdom saying that my documents are cleared and I am chosen,’ he mentioned.

‘So from July 15 onward you are just waiting to get your remaining award letter and apply for your visa.

‘You’re obtaining completely ready for departure. Out of the blue you get an email that it really is postponed.’

Zafary explained to the BBC that it is tricky for the learners to take the determination when visas are currently being troubles to diplomatic staff and Afghans relocating to the British isles.   

He mentioned: ‘When they said it will be paused for the next 12 months, I you should not believe it. If you are not able to make it this calendar year, how can you make it following 12 months?’ 

‘Every day, every single second in this country is unpredictable.’

Afsana Hamidy, who was selected to research a masters in education and learning at Roehampton University in London, has been left shocked at the choice to block their visas. 

Hamidy, who would have been the initial lady and 2nd individual to have specialised in distinctive instructional wants in Afghanisatan, advised Sky Information: ‘The Chevening is discriminating this year since they are giving these possibilities to all other international locations and they are just excluding Afghanistan.’

She additional: ‘I shed really excellent alternatives right here mainly because I declined task gives. I planned every thing all around studying in the Uk.’ 

The Taliban were seen in the districts of Kalakan, Qarabagh and Paghman hours after taking control of Jalalabad, the most recent major Afghan city to fall to the insurgents as they make huge gains across Afghanistan

The Taliban were being noticed in the districts of Kalakan, Qarabagh and Paghman hours immediately after having control of Jalalabad, the most the latest key Afghan metropolis to fall to the insurgents as they make large gains throughout Afghanistan

The Chevening scholarships are funded by the Overseas, Commonwealth and Improvement Office (FCDO) and associate organisations, and the recipients are selected by British embassies and superior commissions throughout the world.

The FCDO states the scholarships provide ‘a exceptional opportunity for future leaders, influencers, and determination-makers from all about the entire world to produce professionally and academically, network extensively, working experience Uk society, and create long lasting good interactions with the UK’.

An FCDO spokesperson told Sky Information: ‘The recent instances in Afghanistan suggest the embassy can’t administer the components of the programme which will have to be finished in Kabul.

‘We have thus paused the Chevening programme there.

‘All of this year’s students will be equipped to start their programme next 12 months.’  

The Taliban on Sunday explained they will declare the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan from the Presidential Palace in Kabul as militants posed in the business office and the country’s president fled for Tajikistan, with hundreds of Afghan nationals now racing to Pakistan to escape brutal Islamist rule. 

Taliban fighters stormed the historical palace on Sunday and demanded a ‘peaceful transfer of power’ as Kabul descended into chaos, with US helicopters evacuating diplomats from the embassy in scenes reminiscent of the 1975 Tumble of Saigon which followed the Vietnam War.

The country’s embattled president Ashraf Ghani fled the place though 1000’s of Afghan nationals rushed to the Pakistan border, in a shift signalling the finish of the 20-calendar year Western intervention started after the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington DC.   

The Taliban has said they will soon declare the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan from the presidential palace in Kabul as militants posed in the office

The Taliban has stated they will quickly declare the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan from the presidential palace in Kabul as militants posed in the business

Taliban militants were pictured inside the Presidential Palace in Kabul after the Afghan president fled the country

Taliban militants were pictured inside the Presidential Palace in Kabul after the Afghan president fled the state

Foreigners in Kabul had been advised to either leave or sign up their existence with Taliban administrators, when RAF planes have been scrambled to evacuate 6,000 British diplomats, citizens and Afghan translators, and the British Ambassador was moved to a safe and sound area. 

Bagram air base, keeping Islamic Point out and Taliban fighters, was also surrendered by Afghan troops on Sunday in spite of the hundreds of billions of dollars put in by the United States and NATO about the previous two a long time to establish up Afghanistan’s stability forces. US navy officials have said that Kabul airport is now closed to industrial flights as navy evacuations continue on.

Primary Minister Boris Johnson said the US final decision to withdraw from Afghanistan had ‘accelerated’ the existing crisis and declared his government’s priority is to get British isles nationals out ‘as speedy as we can’ right after chairing an crisis Cobra assembly in Downing Road. He also vowed that the Middle Jap point out need to not grow to be a ‘breeding floor for terror’ yet again.  

In addition to Kabul, just 7 other provincial capitals out of the country’s 34 are however to tumble to the Taliban immediately after the army, which experienced been educated by the US, unsuccessful to stave off their assaults. The Taliban are now closing in on the capital from all sides, controlling territories to the North, South, East and West and advancing to just 7 miles south of the metropolis. 

As the Taliban progress accelerates, the US is scrambling to evacuate extra than 10,000 American citizens from the money, with officials claimed to be trying to strike a offer for Taliban fighters not to descend on Kabul until eventually the US can pull every person out. 

President Joe Biden has vowed that any action that places Americans at hazard ‘will be achieved with a swift and sturdy US military response’. 

He also blamed Donald Trump for the Taliban takeover of most of Afghanistan, boasting he still left the group ‘in the strongest navy posture because 2001′.             

An image appearing to show Taliban militants at the Presidential Palace in Kabul on Sunday

An impression showing to exhibit Taliban militants at the Presidential Palace in Kabul on Sunday

Militants seized the ancient palace on Sunday and demanded a 'peaceful transfer of power'

Militants seized the historic palace on Sunday and demanded a ‘peaceful transfer of power’

UK military personnel boarding an RAF Voyager aircraft at RAF Brize Norton on August 14, 2021 to travel to Afghanistan

British isles military personnel boarding an RAF Voyager aircraft at RAF Brize Norton on August 14, 2021 to travel to Afghanistan

Johnson was on Sunday to hold additional disaster talks on Afghanistan, his place of work stated, as he recalled parliament from its summertime break.

A Downing Street spokesperson reported Johnson experienced termed a conference of the COBR emergencies committee to focus on the situation, which follows the withdrawal of US-led forces, the second such conference in 3 days.

Parliament reported it had authorised Johnson’s request to simply call back again MPs on Wednesday for urgent discussion on what Britain, which dropped 457 troops in the two-ten years extended war, really should do up coming.

Overseas Secretary Dominic Raab claimed on Sunday he experienced talked to Pakistan counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi, expressing his ‘deep concerns’ and agreeing it was ‘critical’ that the worldwide neighborhood tell the Taliban that the violence should finish and human rights be protected. 

Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, urged Johnson to ‘think again’ about stepping in.

‘We have an at any time-shrinking window of option to recognise exactly where this place is heading as a unsuccessful point out,’ he instructed Situations Radio.

‘Just due to the fact the Americans will not, does not mean to say that we really should be tied to the pondering, the political judgement – notably when it is so improper – of our closest security ally.

‘We could avert this, normally record will decide us really, quite harshly in not stepping in,’ he warned.

Ellwood claimed the govt could deploy the Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth provider strike team to deliver air assistance.

He referred to as the crisis ‘the most important one coverage catastrophe given that Suez’.