Afghan Air Force veterans in Boise share escape story

BOISE, Idaho — Aug. 15, 2021, the day that signaled important change in Afghanistan. As america started to withdraw from the nation, Taliban fighters entered the capital of Kabul. 

“The final day I used to be main a squadron in northern Afghanistan, so the Taliban got here nearly within the airport. So, they begin taking pictures and we felt that, time is up,” Habib mentioned.

Habib and his fellow Afghan airman, Bashir, have been there on Aug. 15, serving alongside People within the Afghan Air Pressure. Habib specialised in helicopter work, Bashir a specialist in mounted wing air crafts.

“I flew the plane till 2021, making the intelligence, giving the movies, capturing the Taliban cartels and drug sellers flying simply shoulder-to-shoulder by People, however their squadron,” Bashir mentioned.

Two weeks earlier than American forces have been set to depart the nation, Taliban forces shortly took benefit of the scenario.

“Taliban got here, they bought the north of Afghanistan. Then, they only paved their approach to the capital of Afghanistan,” Bashir mentioned. “So, we bought the calls, we did not know, like it is going to fall, all the federal government. We did not have time to even discuss with our households. We have been in an airport, simply stand by.”

Whereas Habib labored by way of disaster within the north, Bashir watched chaos within the capital.

“It was not like a giant battle between Taliban and the federal government that day. It was so calm and also you simply knew it is only a dealing factor and I believe the president simply left Afghanistan on Aug. 15 at 11 a.m.,” Bashir mentioned. “So, we have been there ‘until like 3 or 4 p.m. after which we left Afghanistan.”

“A lot of troops in Kabul, however there was no management. So, and the presidency and the coalition forces, they have been all within the airport aspect, and folks have been scared as a result of the Taliban, they act like final 20 years was very brutal,” Habib mentioned. “So, they did not care about kids and lady. Individuals have been scared that day. It was like a nightmare.”

Pictures of Kabul circulated all over the world, displaying a chaotic rush to flee the violent Taliban.

“All Afghans that work with america, people who find themselves making an attempt to get out. You are seeing the ladies and kids operating on the runway. So, we nearly hit the individuals on the runway as we have been taking off from the runway,” Bashir remembered.  

Bashir was in a position to escape the capital and Bashir, the northern a part of Afghanistan. They each headed to Uzbekistan.

“So, we broke some worldwide regulation as a result of we went to their nation all geared up with fighter copters, with all of our gear, weapons and every thing we had, like superior gear,” Habib mentioned. “We left nothing again residence for the unit, so we took all of the computer systems, like laborious drive and stuff. So, it was to make everybody else protected. They have been like, ‘you planning to assault? Otherwise you generally is a fleeing. How will you see that like this?’ So, we had a tough time for like a month. We have been like on a regular basis, they have been, like, questioning us. They have been very suspicious.”

The pair reunited in Uzbekistan, however mentioned they didn’t notice it will be the following a part of the nightmare. After weeks and weeks of working with officers and going by way of evaluation, the pair was in a position to get into the EU and from there, to america.

“I had some mates, they reside right here in Boise. That they had numerous good tales and issues in regards to the Boise. That is the place you’ll want to be,” Habib mentioned.  

“I by no means heard of Boise, Idaho. I knew Washington, D.C., California, Texas and Chicago. We had 5 mates collectively, so we selected to remain in Boise and possibly we are able to simply make a approach to fly once more and that is our hope proper now,” Bashir mentioned.

Each Bashir and Habib are working by way of difficult visa, refugee, and asylum processes. For now, they each work to assist make ends meet for his or her households, who they have been pressured to depart behind. The pair is aware of the every day risks their households face, threats of the Taliban.

“Two weeks in the past, the house we had, the house me, my dad and my older brother tried to construct it and every thing, the Taliban took it and so they gave the individuals three days to get your sofa and your TV’s and every thing. We’ve got the home, so it is laborious. You are proper,” Bashir mentioned. “While you get pushed out of your home, your homeland. They get every thing. Not simply me. Like numerous our mates of occurred the identical factor. They bought their homes and you may reside no matter you need, however we now have the home.”

The pair thinks about their households and scenario continually.

“My residence, my individuals, particularly the ladies proper now, they’re preventing on a regular basis. They’re on the road. They’re asking for his or her rights, however nobody can see that. Sadly, as a result of they will not let the media present, Taliban is definitely in opposition to training, particularly with the ladies. It is like we simply went again 20 or 40 years,” Habib mentioned. “So, they’re afraid of individuals giving good to training, particularly the girl to have the best. They make explosion in establishments, colleges, particularly on lady and kids, and so they simply wish to maintain the federal government from doing so for possibly too lengthy. That is why they’re constructing the individuals and training aspect.”

The fact of on a regular basis life in Kabul, it may be a really troublesome place to reside.
Habib and Bashir hope to get their households state aspect, however know it is going to be a problem. The pair continues to work laborious on their very own journey to get inexperienced playing cards right here, to allow them to observe the eagerness and livelihood they each love, flying air crafts and helicopters. 

It’s difficult, as a result of certification within the U.S. doesn’t rely their 1000’s of hours of army flights. It’s a problem each are able to deal with, as they proceed to work jobs to help themselves and household again residence.

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