Indian travel vlogger Backpacker Arunima has clarified her earlier claim of being arrested by “Mujahideen” in Afghanistan, saying she was actually threatened with arrest by local authorities in Bamyan. She said officials questioned her after she arrived in the area while travelling alone. According to her latest account, authorities told her that women could not travel alone without a male companion or guide. After a local man intervened and spoke with officials, she was allowed to continue her journey towards the Uzbekistan border.Why Was Arunima Threatened?The Indian travel vlogger said she reached Bamyan at around 7 pm and was questioned about her passport, visa and travel permit. She said officials told her that she had violated local rules and could face arrest because she was travelling without a male companion or guide. Arunima became frightened and contacted a local man who had previously helped her, after which discussions took place with the authorities.Arunima was questioned in Bamyan about her travel documents.She said authorities objected to her travelling alone.She initially described the incident as an arrest by “Mujahideen.”She later clarified that she faced a threat of arrest.Officials eventually allowed her to continue her journey.Earlier Arrest Claim ExplainedThe controversy began after Backpacker Arunima posted on social media that she had been “arrested” by the “Mujahideen” in Bamyan. She also shared what she described as a translated message from local authorities saying she had been arrested because she did not have an official letter. She appealed publicly for help contacting the Indian embassy while saying she was in trouble in Afghanistan. At that stage, the claim could not be independently verified and there was no immediate official confirmation from India’s Ministry of External Affairs.In her later explanation, however, Arunima gave a different account of what happened. She said local authorities threatened to arrest her over travelling alone and insisted that she obtain a permit and travel with a guide. She also said she had previously been denied a permit in Jalalabad because she was travelling without a male companion. Her latest account therefore changes the understanding of the original “arrest” claim.Latest Update From AfghanistanArunima said she was eventually permitted to move ahead after the local man spoke with authorities on her behalf. She planned to travel roughly 500 kilometres towards the Uzbekistan border and expected to pass through several checkpoints. She described the experience as frightening and said she felt the situation had happened because she was travelling as a woman.The episode has drawn attention to the difficulties faced by women travelling alone in Afghanistan. The UK government’s current travel advisory also warns against all travel to Afghanistan, citing the country’s volatile security situation and risks to foreign visitors.Key HighlightsBackpacker Arunima is an Indian travel vlogger documenting her Afghanistan journey.She initially claimed she had been arrested by “Mujahideen” in Bamyan.She later said local authorities only threatened to arrest her.Officials reportedly objected to her travelling without a male companion or guide.She was allowed to continue after discussions with the authorities.Arunima said she was heading towards the Uzbekistan border.Arunima Says She Is SafeThe latest clarification indicates that the Indian vlogger was not held in a confirmed long-term detention, despite her initial social media description of the incident as an arrest. She said she was eventually allowed to leave the area and continue her planned route. Her experience has nevertheless raised concerns about the challenges and risks involved in solo female travel in Afghanistan.The initial arrest claim could not be independently verified, and the latest account is based on Arunima’s own statements. The situation and any official response should therefore be followed through verified sources as further information emerges.Disclaimer: This article is published for knowledge and news-information purposes only and is based on publicly reported developments. It does not independently establish any allegation made by the individuals involved.
