As Afghan students enrolled at Panjab University (PU) await visas to resume their studies in India, a special committee formed by the university has recommended that departments be asked to expand online education for them.

The recommendations are, however, subject to the approval of Vice-Chancellor (VC) Raj Kumar. The development comes after the university received updates from students on their visa status.

Afghan students have found themselves at their wit’s end after offline classes resumed as a number of them are still waiting for visas to come to India.

More than 60 Afghan students are enrolled in different university departments and have been unable to return to India since the Taliban took over the country last year.

Still unsure of the timing of their return, students expressed disappointment at missing out on their studies and requested online lectures until their visas were sorted.

Sahar Noor, 24, a student at the University Institute of Applied Management Sciences (UIAMS) at PU, said: “We are not sure about visa issuance and we are losing academically. We know it is not in the hands of the university, but they should help us through the online mode.

Abdul Monir Kakar, a representative of Afghan students in Chandigarh, meanwhile said, “It will be a kind gesture from the university authorities to help students stranded in Afghanistan. Students will not suffer academically. We hope the university will take a final call on this soon.

A meeting of foreign student advisers from affiliated colleges was also held at the university on Tuesday. During the meeting, it was revealed that there is only one college where Afghan students have not been able to return to India so far. It is learned that the college helps these students through online education.