Internet Didn't Have Nice Things To Say About This Girl's 'Solo Bus Adventures' In Afghanistan

Women in Afghanistan have reportedly been facing many restrictions after Taliban returning to power in 2021. Several reports claim that women’s access to education and employment has been curtailed under the Taliban regime and they are losing freedom. Against this backdrop, a video featuring a woman from Bihar taking a bus ride in Afghanistan has surfaced on social media leading to a debate among users.

The video begins with the woman announcing her intention to buy a bus ticket in Afghanistan alone, acknowledging the anticipated challenges. She shares her difficulty in obtaining a ticket without a male companion but proceeds anyway to see if she can get a ticket with the help of her passport. Initially, she recounted her taxi ride, highlighting the driver’s reluctance to accept “even Rs 10” as a gesture of hospitality.

Upon reaching the ticket counter, she described her interaction with the attendant, who explained the ticket prices and the requirement for a husband or a man to travel outside Kabul. Despite the chaotic atmosphere and language barriers, she appreciated the kindness of the men who assisted her with bus details and timings. She included a conversation with a man in the video who acknowledged the necessity of a male companion but offers assistance nonetheless.

Ultimately, she successfully secured a bus seat, though at a higher price due to a misunderstanding while buying ticket. To her delight, she discovered that she had been allocated a single window seat on a luxury bus, exceeding her expectations. She expressed gratitude for the generosity and care shown by fellow passengers throughout the journey.

However, the trip took an awkward turn when the bus made multiple stops for prayers, and she chose not to get down from the bus, causing confusion among other passengers. Nevertheless, she concluded the video with enthusiasm, stating her anticipation for future travels in the country.

Watch the video here:

The video was posted by an Instagram user named Kriti, also known as ‘Digital Nomad’ and ‘Backpacker’ as mentioned on her profile.

“In Afghanistan they only have buses and 4 wheelers as the most common mode of transport and the bus took more than 18 hours to reach the destination. I was literally sleeping all the way through guys. What else would you do?? There were multiple Taliban checkpoints but because I was sleeping, nobody woke me up. I am convinced sleep is the way to avoid all problems. What would you do on a bus trip like this one? Honestly I am not over my Afghan trip yet,” the caption read.

The video garnered significant attention on social media, igniting various reactions from the users. “Gotta appreciate this girl’s courage to travel alone in one of the dangerous countries in the world for women,” a user commented, while another said, “Why in the world would you go to Afghanistan?.” An account remarked, “Can you walk on roads alone.” Another said, “This girl is just trying to defend the Taliban.”