A number of Afghan university students who won scholarships cannot attend international programs because the passport office in Kabul remains closed and travel documents cannot be obtained.

The students told TOLOnews they need to renew their passports or they will not be able to receive their visas.

An Afghan student, Najiullah Aryamehr, won a scholarship to study management at a Russian university last year, but he could not travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the closing of borders.

However, he took an online class to learn the Russian language.

“No one hears our voices. We have serious problems,” Aryamehr told TOLOnews.

According to these students, classes have already started and there is an urgent need for passports.

Mohammad Zamir Rahmani said: “We have to update our passports to get visas. We will be deprived of an education if we cannot get visas.”

“We will lose our scholarships ... the fate of more than three hundred students is still unclear,” said student Sekander Jamili.

Sources said that on average around 2,000 Afghan students receive scholarships from schools in India, Russia, Pakistan, China, Japan, Uzbekistan and Turkey each year.

More than 40,000 Afghan students benefited from scholarships over the last two decades, according to available information.

In the meantime, officials of the caretaker government said efforts are being made to employ educated people:

“There is a need for professional youth. We plan to recruit them. No one will remain unemployed," said Zabihullah Mujahid, deputy minister for culture and information.