Kerala Vlogger Arunima Claims Taliban Detention in Afghanistan, Later Released
Kerala travel vlogger Arunima claimed she was detained in Bamyan for travelling alone but was later allowed to leave Afghanistan after settling the matter with Taliban authorities.
Kerala travel vlogger Arunima, known online as ‘Backpacker Arunima’, claimed she was detained by Taliban members in Bamyan, Afghanistan, after travelling alone. She later said she was allowed to leave after discussions and settling the matter with the authorities.
Arunima initially posted an SOS message seeking help to contact the Indian embassy, saying she was in trouble in Bamyan. She later shared details of the incident, claiming authorities told her that women could not travel alone under local rules and that permits were required for travel between provinces.
According to Arunima, she had previously faced difficulty obtaining a permit in Jalalabad because she was travelling alone. After being stopped in Bamyan, she contacted a person who had earlier helped her travel there, who intervened with the authorities on her behalf.
She said the Taliban members insisted that she obtain the necessary permits and travel with a guide. They also allegedly demanded a fine because she had remained in Afghanistan while violating the rules. Arunima said she negotiated the matter and was eventually permitted to leave Afghanistan for Uzbekistan without obtaining another permit.
The vlogger said she faced repeated checks and restrictions during her journey because she was travelling as a woman, while male travellers she knew faced fewer difficulties. She has been documenting her Afghanistan trip on social media and said she had adopted purdah during much of her journey.
