Four years ago Asif Pazhwak fled his homeland as a 26-year-old IT student. Now he resides in Kupang, Indonesia, awaiting resettlement.
"Honestly I am not safe in Afghanistan so I just run away to stay safe and it's not too difficult to know which countries are safe," he tells SBS Indonesian via text message.
Upon his arrival in Jakarta, Mr Pazhwak registered himself with UNHCR and then he was being relocated to the city of Kupang in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
Mr Pazhwak is one of about 300 refugees - men, women and children - who are in Kupang waiting to be resettled in a third country. He says that the refugees there have been waiting for three to six years for resettlement.
After the 'Medevac' medical transfers bill passed through parliament last week with support from Labor, Greens and crossbenchers, the subject of refugees boarding boats in Indonesia to make the perilous journey to Australia became prominent once more.
A boat carrying asylum seekers arrives at Christmas Island on in 2012. Source: AAP
The Coalition, who opposed the bill but could not prevent its passage, suggested that the medical transfer of detainees held in Nauru and Manus could encourage a fresh wave of asylum seekers on boats.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Wednesday that the .
Beyond the stipulation in the bill that medical transfers would only apply to those individuals already in detention on Nauru and Manus Island, Morrison said that the bill could revive the people smuggling trade.
"My job now is to ensure that the boats don't come. My job now is to do everything within my power and in the power of the government to ensure that what the parliament has done to weaken our borders does not result in boats coming to Australia," .
Speaking to SBS Indonesian, Mr Pazhwak says he would be happy if Australia helps those people in detention on Nauru and Manus Island - especially those who need medical assistance.
The Christmas Island detention centre. Source: AAP
Regarding Scott Morrison's concerns, Mr Pazhwak says refugees would not try to get to Australia by boat, even if Christmas Island was reopened.
"You know Australian government is able to control its borders even (if they) reopen Christmas island," he said. "They will not do that [travel by boat]... Of course, it's too dangerous. Nobody's gonna do that. Nobody's gonna risk that."
Mr Pazhwak said that he knows almost all of the refugees living in Kupang, and said that they would not take the risk to enter Australia by boat.
"I almost know all of them," he said. "They're not gonna choose going to Australia by boat because it's too dangerous and also they've waited for three to four, even six years."
Mr Pazhwak said that the refugees hope to be resettled in countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States. But there is no promise as to when that may happen.
Referred to as 'Kaka Asif' (meaning Big Brother Asif) by the local community, Mr Pazhwak resides in Lavender Hotel, Liliba in Kupang. Many others also live in the hotel, which has been converted into a shelter for the refugees, and receive a monthly allowance of IDR 1,250,000 (approx $125).
He claims this allowance is insufficient because of high living costs in Kupang, which exceed that of other areas in Indonesia.
Since the Indonesian government does not allow refugees to work, Mr Pazhwak teaches English as a volunteer in the local community named 'Rumah Sejuta Mimpi' (House of a Million Dreams).
Despite the difficulty of his currently living conditions, the 30-year-old said he will not risk his life by crossing to Australia by boat.
Afghan refugee Asif Pazhwak (R) teaches English as a volunteer at 'Rumah Sejuta Mimpi' in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. Source: Asif Pazhwak
"I will never go to Australia by illegal way because Australian government [is] gonna send me back and it's too dangerous to go by boat," Mr Pazhwak said. "Now I'm the only one who can support my family - that's why I can't risk like that."
Mr Pazhwak said that his family remains in Afghanistan but he doesn't have any news of them after Taliban attacks in Malistan, where his family lives, and Jaghori. He said that the Taliban has also killed his eldest brother.
Nevertheless Mr Pazhwak has a dream to someday reunite with his family in another country.
"I will try to bring my family to join me again because Afghanistan will not be safe in our whole life," he said. "I will try to be a good teacher in [a] third country and can't wait to see my family's smile and help my little sisters and brothers [to] join school and learning knowledge."
