THE AFGHAN TRAIL IN DELHI -FOOD AND REFUGEE STATUS!

Published by- Imtiaz Ullah( NomadLawyer)

https://www.nomadlawyer.org/

Afghan cuisine is largely based upon the nation’s chief crops, such as wheat, maize, barley and rice. Accompanying these staples are native fruits and vegetables as well as dairy products such as milk, yogurt dough and whey. Kabuli Palaw is the national dish of Afghanistan.

An intrinsic part of the charm of Delhi’s culture is the variety of cuisines available here. Delhi is amalgamation of people from vibrant cultures and customs and what people from different culture brings with them – FOOD. Delhi has a cocktail of food and this is what makes Delhi unique in its food.

If you wish to have authentic Afghani food in Delhi, it has to be “Little Kabul” of Delhi in Lajpat Nagar 2 market.

Have you ever thought why these Afghani people came to Delhi?

Many people in Afghanistan has known fear in their home, looking death in the eye, day and night. India is home to almost 14,000 refugees and asylum seekers from Afghanistan who have fled the war-torn country in search of safety and a better life.

The bustling area is full of men in Pathani salwars and women in fashionable abayas, Every sign board in the street, lined with Afghan eateries, chemists, travel agencies, money exchangers and shops, is both in English and Dari.

Some noteworthy Afghani restaurants that do not deserve a miss-

● Kabul Delhi Restaurant

● Afghan Darbar Restaurant

● Mazaar Restaurant

● Balkh Restaurant

● New Kabul-Delhi Restaurant

Important laws governing the refugees: Lack of access to education, jobs and healthcare because of their not-so-clear legal status in India, which is not a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention. There is no national refugee law, which means decisions on them are mostly administrative, and different groups of refugees are often treated differently.

The legal status of refugees in India is governed by the Foreigners Act 1946 and the Citizenship Act 1955. These Acts do not differentiate between refugees fleeing persecution and violence, and other foreigners. It is a criminal offence, under these Acts, to be without valid travel or residence documents.

India has a long tradition of welcoming refugees.