Canadians concerned for loved ones trying to flee Afghanistan

WINNIPEG (CityNews) — As American troops continue to leave Afghanistan, and thousands of Afghans try to flee, those living in Canada are concerned for their loved ones.

“I never thought that the Taliban would be able to take over the country like this,” said Bashir Ahmad, who came to Canada in 2008 and says he’s concerned for his friends and family in Afghanistan right now.

“People on the ground were telling me all these things, all these horrifying things that have been happening.”

As a teenager, Ahmad says he grew up under Taliban rule and called the system brutal. His biggest concern is the freedom men, and specifically women and young girls, have advanced over the last 20 years could recede overnight if the Taliban government returns to ruling as it did in the past.

“You just didn’t have that chance, and girls couldn’t go to school and you couldn’t have music and things like that,” said Ahmad. “My worst fear is the Taliban haven’t changed and they try to impose those things.”

Said Ahmadi came to Canada as a refugee in 1987. He says it’s been difficult seeing the images from back home, and that it’s impossible not to be scared for his family members still living there.

“People (are) scared about the Taliban, my family is still in Kabul, you worry, especially for kids like girls and young women,” said Ahmadi.

As for Ahmad, he says he is still in shock over what has happened in his home over the last week and says it will take time for him to fully come to terms with what he is seeing.

However, when Ahmad came to Canada, he said he would always go back, and still plans on returning. But his hope is that as countries withdraw their military presence, they will leave behind diplomatic ties that help to maintain peace.

“Keep your embassies there, keep in contact because 20 years ago there were no embassies in Kabul when the Taliban was in power, and that’s bad,” added Ahmad.