Social media post claims Malayali vlogger held by Taliban; ‘Backpacker Arunima’ seeks help

NEW DELHI: A social media post has claimed that Malayali vlogger Arunima, popularly known as ‘Backpacker Arunima’, was detained by the Taliban while travelling in Afghanistan. Arunima shared an Instagram story saying that she had been arrested by the Taliban and sought help in contacting the Indian Embassy. She is currently in Bamyan, Afghanistan.

Arunima shared the post as a translation of a message written in Pashto, the official language of the Taliban. The message reportedly said, 'The Mujahideen have arrested you now because you do not have official documents.' She also appealed to anyone who could contact the Indian Embassy to inform them about the situation.

The authenticity of the post has not yet been verified. The Ministry of External Affairs has also not issued any official response regarding the incident. The post does not provide further details about the circumstances that led to her alleged arrest or the identity of those who detained her.

Arunima has been travelling across Afghanistan and regularly sharing videos on her YouTube channel and other social media platforms. She has also spoken extensively about the conditions faced by women in the country.

Arunima had earlier said that she was allowed to travel without covering her face because she is a foreigner. She has also spoken about the restrictions she experienced in Afghanistan and the lives of women there. When she arrived in the country, Taliban authorities advised her not to travel alone because she is a woman.

In her vlog, Arunima said women in Afghanistan have virtually no rights and that she understood the meaning of freedom to dress and travel only after visiting the country.

Arunima has more than 1.2 million followers on Instagram, 239,000 on Facebook and over 730,000 subscribers on YouTube. She travels by hitchhiking, often seeking lifts from strangers.