Afghans say going back home is harder

LUDHIANA: Afghanis living in Punjab are a worried lot these days. The way things are unfolding in their country, they said, are giving them sleepless nights. Ever since the United States of America withdrew its troops from the war-torn country, the possibility of Taliban taking over the reins of the country is getting pronounced, they fear.

According to sources, apart from students, nearly 40 families from Afghanistan have settled in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala and Amritsar.

“I had come to Ludhiana in 2015 and after graduating from here I returned to my country and after working there for two years I returned here in 2020 and have been doing MBA since then. After the recent events, I am worried for my family. My father, mother and brother told me that Kabul is normal, the Taliban are in the neighbouring province. But our government army is not strong, they cannot beat them,” said 24-year-old Abdul

Mubin

Nadim of Kabul.

Mubin added: “No one wants them (Taliban) to come as they cannot control things. We want United States back in Afghanistan”.

Mubin’s friend and his countryman, 28-year-old Abdullah Ali Shangi, also from Kabul, who has worked in Taliban controlled province of

Laghman

, said since it is the age of social media, they are in touch with family back home.

“My father, mother, three sisters, four brothers are there in Kabul and I am in touch with them. Not only are we worried for our families, but we are worried about the future of our country as well. We are victims of this conflict, which has been going on for nearly 40 years now,” said Abdullah. “However, I can tell you that no one likes Taliban as they are illiterate, lack planning and their actions are not as per

Islam

even if they claim they are.”

Narrating his experience about working in areas controlled by Taliban, Abdullah said between 2018 and 2020, he was team leader of a government group that carried survey about water, agriculture and schools in villages of Laghman province.

“They didn’t harm us, however, before starting survey, we have to seek their approval and inform them about our agenda,” said Abdullah.

“I left Afghanistan on July 11 and I can tell you that situation there is worrisome. If Talibans come to power, they will convert minorities. I have to work there, as I have three sons, wife and mother to support as here I wouldn’t earn the money (about Rs 30,000) that I earn there,” said

Maan Singh

, who runs a

Unani Medicines

shop at

Shor Bazar

in Kabul and presently lives near

Dana Mandi

in Ludhiana. He added that he and his friend, who is also in Ludhiana now, was injured in the gurdwara attack there on March 25 last year in which 25 persons had died.

“I came to India with my family in 2012, as situation was bad. They would not even allow us to cremate our dead. As of now, 80% of Afghanistan is controlled by Taliban. Three of my cousins had died in terror attacks there last year. We don’t want to go back,” said 54-year-old Channi Singh, who ran a cloth shop in Kabul and now lives in Chawni Mohalla and drives e-rickshaw.