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Afghanistan failed to make it to the final of the recently-concluded Asia Cup but the performance of the Mohammad Nabi-led side impressed one and all. They started off with wins against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the group stage, but defeats against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and India in the Super 4 stage led to their ouster. In an interview with NDTV, former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan spoke about how more game time against the top teams will help the side in easing out their nerves in pressure situations.

He also spoke about the rivalry that has developed between Pakistan and Afghanistan, how Mujeeb Ur Rahman has managed to cement his place in the side and how Afghanistan needs to learn to take the game deep against big teams.

"No doubt, the performance of Afghanistan in the Asia Cup was very good. The only problem is that we do not play against big teams that often, Afghanistan Cricket Board needs to organise home and away series against big teams. Till the time, we do not play against big teams, we will not gain that experience. After the World Cup last year, we played in the Asia Cup. A long time passed before we played a big tournament. Till the time we do not play more matches, our cricket won't move forward," said Afghan, who is currently in India to participate in the upcoming Legends League Cricket.

"Afghanistan would have gained a lot of experience from playing in the Asia Cup. The performance was good, but because of inexperience, we were not able to get over the line. Till the time, we do not play against big teams, we would not have experience in finishing off games. The match against Pakistan was a close one, whenever you play against a big side, you need to take the game deep. Talking about Afghanistan, we want to finish off games in quick succession, but taking the game deep is the need of the hour. We need to play against big teams consistently, if we play 3-5 match series against big teams, there will be a great improvement," he added.

In the Asia Cup, Mujeeb Ur Rahman returned with seven wickets while seasoned spinner Rashid Khan took six wickets. Afghan, was all praise for Mujeeb, saying the spinner bowls upfront to usually the best batters of opposition and that is a completely different skill set.

"Mujeeb comes onto bowl in the difficult periods. He is usually bowling to the openers or the No.3 batter, and these three are generally the best players of a team. More fielders are inside the circle, so the pressure is more on Mujeeb. There are few spinners who can bowl this well in the powerplay. Mujeeb has always performed, and when Rashid Khan comes onto bowl, there are more fielders outside the 30-yard circle and the ball has gotten old. I have to say that Mujeeb has always performed under tough situations," said the 35-year-old.

The match between Afghanistan and Pakistan was a thrilling encounter, and in the end, Babar Azam's side prevailed by one wicket as Naseem Shah hit back-to-back sixes in the final over to seal the contest. However, the match was marred by some unsavoury scenes as Afghanistan fans broke the chairs inside the Sharjah Stadium and even assaulted Pakistan fans. The match also saw Pakistan's Asif Ali clashing with Afghanistan pacer Fareed Malik.

"Our players have played with Pakistan players. When there used to be refugee, our players used to play in Peshawar. When you know the players, there is a sense of competitiveness, and aggression is bound to be there. The fans of both Pakistan and Afghanistan wait for this contest. The players are also aggressive and they give their best to win. The aggression is there on the ground, sometimes it can be a bit too much, but in the end, it is just a sport. These types of incidents can happen," said the former Afghanistan captain.

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"But at the end of the day, cricket was the winner. One team has to win, one team has to lose. Even the fans were angry after Afghanistan lost against Pakistan in the Asia Cup. There was a scuffle, this was not right. Sports should be looked at as sports only, these types of incidents should not take the glory away from the sport," he added.

Lastly, talking about playing in the Legends League Cricket, Afghan said: "I want to Legends League for creating a platform for the retired players to come and play, it is an incredible platform. We will enjoy it and we are excited to play. There are some big players involved. I am waiting to play at the Eden Gardens, the stadium has been lucky for me too. It is one of the best grounds in India, we are just waiting to go out there and play."

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'Afghanistan Won't Gain Experience Till They Play Against Big Teams Consistently': Asghar Afghan To .. - NDTV Sports

WASHINGTON We all knew the war had to come to an end, but as the world watched the U.S.s chaotic and heart-wrenching withdrawal from Afghanistan, we never expected it to end that way.

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the end of the longest war in U.S. history. From the U.S. invasion shortly after the devastating attacks on Sep. 11, 2001, to the last U.S. Air Force C-17 that lifted off the Kabul International Airport runway on Aug. 30, 2021, approximately 800,000 American military men and women served in Afghanistan. It is estimated that the U.S. had spent more than $2 trillion during the course of the war. The U.S. and its NATO partners helped the Afghan people set up a new government, establish its own security forces, hold elections, open schools, build roads, and allow for commerce and communication to flow. So when it was announced that the U.S. would withdraw by the end of August 2021, it seemed like the Afghan government would be able to maintain the momentum built since they were freed from Taliban rule almost 20 years before. What happened in August last year was probably only imagined on a military planners PowerPoint slide, saved as a backup in case a commander wanted to see what the worse-case scenario would be.

The Taliban took over huge swaths of the country as Afghan security forces collapsed without the help of U.S. support. The American bases and scores of equipment were left abandoned as U.S. troops pulled out in what seemed like a matter of days. The sheer panic of thousands of Afghans rushing to the Kabul International Airport to flee the country. People clinging to sides of U.S. military aircraft during taxi and take off, only to lose their grip and fall to their death. The Taliban terrorizing men, women, and children in the streets of the capital, and Taliban leadership posing for a photo op as they took over the presidential palace. American citizens unable to evacuate from the country. Then the unthinkable happened - a suicide bomb explodes at the airports Abbey Gate killing 13 U.S. service members and more than 100 Afghan men, women and children. For what was supposed to be the inevitable withdrawal and noncombatant evacuation that had at least a year to prepare for, it was pure and utter chaos. Yet, despite all the confusion, it was because of the bravery and tenacity of American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines that close to 6,000 American citizens and more than 124,00 Afghan and other civilians were successfully airlifted out in what would become the largest air evacuation in U.S. history.

The 1.5 million members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Auxiliary would like all Americans to join us in saying thank you for the dedication, bravery and sacrifice of all veterans of the war in Afghanistan. For 20 years they kept Al-Qaeda from planning and executing another 9/11 style attack on American soil. They planted a seed of hope with a generation of Afghans who may have never experienced freedom without U.S. service members being there. And in the final days of the war, they saved the lives of more than 130,000 people, evacuating them to safety. We will never forget the 2,448 who laid down their lives during those 20 years for the sake of freedom. Nor will we forget the promise our country made to our Afghan partners who fought and served alongside our troops and only want a chance for a better life. America needs to do all it can to uphold its word to them in honor of every U.S. service member who sacrificed so much on behalf of the safety and security of both countries.

To our new Afghan neighbors who made it over to American soil, we say welcome, and to our veterans of our nations longest war, we say welcome home.

To learn more about the VFW-supported, bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act, follow the link here.

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Leaving Afghanistan One Year Later - VFW

Taliban guards stand at the entrance of the National Museum of Afghanistan after it reopened under Taliban control in Kabul in December. Mustafa Melih Ahishali/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images hide caption

Taliban guards stand at the entrance of the National Museum of Afghanistan after it reopened under Taliban control in Kabul in December.

KABUL One of the most striking sights at the National Museum of Afghanistan these days isn't inside the museum, but by its front gates.

Young, armed Taliban guards protect the entrance, searching visitors before they enter the museum grounds.

The last time the Taliban were in power, at the direction of then-leader Mullah Muhammad Omar, they smashed ancient statues and other objects in this museum that they deemed un-Islamic and idolatrous.

That was in 2001 the same year the Taliban also blew up two ancient, colossal Buddha statues carved into a cliffside in the city of Bamiyan. By the end of that year, the Taliban were toppled.

And so when they returned to power a year ago, many cultural heritage advocates worried about the fate of the museum and its irreplaceable treasures.

Artifacts from Afghanistan's National Museum on display at Muse Guimet in Paris in 2006. These objects range in date from the 1st to 3rd centuries, and were recovered from Afghanistan's Tillya Tepe, Ai Khanum and Begram archaeological sites. They include a "Bactrian Aphrodite" figurine (top left), a 1st century gold coin (top right), a 1st century crown (center), jewelry and decorated glassware. Thierry Ollivier/Muse Guimet / Getty Images hide caption

Artifacts from Afghanistan's National Museum on display at Muse Guimet in Paris in 2006. These objects range in date from the 1st to 3rd centuries, and were recovered from Afghanistan's Tillya Tepe, Ai Khanum and Begram archaeological sites. They include a "Bactrian Aphrodite" figurine (top left), a 1st century gold coin (top right), a 1st century crown (center), jewelry and decorated glassware.

"The National Museum of Afghanistan was, once upon a time, the finest museum in Central Asia, and that is not an exaggeration," says Laura Tedesco, a cultural heritage and preservation specialist with the State Department who has worked with Afghan museum staff over the years.

She recalls visiting when the galleries were full of prehistoric figurines, ancient Buddhist artifacts and life-size human figure statues all of it capturing the country's diverse blend of cultures over millennia.

Afghan construction workers put a new ceiling in one of the rooms at the National Museum on Feb. 18, 2003, in Kabul. The museum, which was extensively damaged during heavy fighting in the 1990s, was renovated with international help. Paula Bronstein/Getty Images hide caption

Afghan construction workers put a new ceiling in one of the rooms at the National Museum on Feb. 18, 2003, in Kabul. The museum, which was extensively damaged during heavy fighting in the 1990s, was renovated with international help.

"The artifacts on display were exquisite and Louvre-worthy in their quality," says Tedesco. "The diversity of culture evidenced in those artifacts is unique to Afghanistan because it was this cultural crossroads, and armies and thinkers and religions and influencers crisscrossed [it]."

After the Taliban seized control of the capital last August, the museum closed. Museum staff and others were uncertain the group would honor its pledge months earlier to protect the country's cultural heritage and prevent the looting of ancient artifacts.

When the museum eventually reopened in December, it was a hopeful sign to cultural heritage advocates that things might be different this time under Taliban rule.

The museum used to draw an array of visitors, from foreign dignitaries to busloads of schoolchildren. Now, with Afghanistan's economy in ruins, few seem to come by anymore. In a recent two-hour visit to the museum, NPR encountered no other visitors.

A museum employee says things are going fine, and with the arrival of the Taliban, "there was no obstacle for our work. Everything is going as normal as it was before." NPR is not naming museum employees for their security.

Taliban fighter Mansoor Zulfiqar, left, visits the National Museum of Afghanistan, in Kabul on Dec. 6, 2021. Petros Giannakouris/AP hide caption

Taliban fighter Mansoor Zulfiqar, left, visits the National Museum of Afghanistan, in Kabul on Dec. 6, 2021.

In walking through the museum, NPR saw displays of centuries-old ceramic bowls glazed in vibrant greens and blues, and ancient urns with Quranic verses meticulously etched into the sides.

There are hoards of coins, some so gold they almost glow. One room features wooden totems from a remote part of Afghanistan, and old weapons embellished with intricate mother-of-pearl inlay.

Buddhist heads dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries were seen on display during a recent visit to the National Museum of Afghanistan. They were the only items on display in a section of the museum labeled "Buddhist Heritage of Afghanistan." Arezou Rezvani/NPR hide caption

Buddhist heads dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries were seen on display during a recent visit to the National Museum of Afghanistan. They were the only items on display in a section of the museum labeled "Buddhist Heritage of Afghanistan."

A large sign in English on the third floor reads "Buddhist Heritage of Afghanistan." But there are only three small, plaster Buddhist heads on display, dating back to 2nd and 3rd centuries.

Much of the rest is labeled contemporary, including a marble coffee table with jasper inlay, and the year 2000 carved into it.

Another employee dismisses it all as "kids' art."

A man walks near a colossal Buddha statue in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, in 1997. The Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan in March 2001. Jean-Claude Chapon/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

A man walks near a colossal Buddha statue in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, in 1997. The Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan in March 2001.

He points to a television. "We used to show a film about the Taliban's destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas on that TV," he says adding that it's been unplugged since last August.

As the Taliban advanced toward Kabul last year, archeologist Gil Stein watched with great trepidation from afar. As the director of the Chicago Center for Cultural Heritage Preservation, he'd had conversations with museum staff over the years about emergency plans, including what to do in case the Taliban took over again.

Various heads from Buddhist statues excavated from Afghanistan's Hadda archaeological site, dating back to 2nd and 3rd centuries, are exhibited in Afghanistan's National Museum in Kabul in 2012. Buddhism in Afghanistan is traced back some 2,000 years and started fading with the arrival of Islam in the 7th century. Jawad Jalali/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Various heads from Buddhist statues excavated from Afghanistan's Hadda archaeological site, dating back to 2nd and 3rd centuries, are exhibited in Afghanistan's National Museum in Kabul in 2012. Buddhism in Afghanistan is traced back some 2,000 years and started fading with the arrival of Islam in the 7th century.

"One of the first things that [museum staff] did was they took all of the early Buddhist art off display in the galleries, and they put it into the storerooms," says Stein. "The second thing is, they started to be very, very careful in their public communications."

So far, it's hard for experts to know what to make of the Taliban's pledge to protect cultural heritage. In more remote parts of the country, Stein and others worry about the security of less visible sites without the means to take precautions to protect objects.

And ideology may not be the only threat. Looting of ancient sites has caused destruction for decades. And in the case of the massive ancient Buddhist complex at Mes Aynak, about 25 miles south of Kabul, it sits atop a copper deposit believed to be one of the biggest in the world.

People visit the National Museum of Afghanistan after it reopened under Taliban control in December. The museum had closed after the Taliban regained control of the country last August. Bilal Galer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images hide caption

People visit the National Museum of Afghanistan after it reopened under Taliban control in December. The museum had closed after the Taliban regained control of the country last August.

This archaeological site was already in danger due to proposed Chinese mining activity that was agreed under a previous Afghan administration. The mining stalled, but this week, the Taliban acting minister of mines and petroleum said officials are "working quickly" to revive and resume the project. For a cash-strapped Taliban government, the lure of business opportunities may overwhelm other considerations.

"One of the biggest risks to Afghan cultural heritage right now is not necessarily the Taliban blowing up or smashing statues, but rather out of the need for economic development, they simply are not going to care about the damage that might be done," says Stein. "It's a perfect storm of risks."

But he says there's reason for hope that heritage can be protected under the Taliban.

"It is possible," he says. "It would be a terrible mistake for the West to write them off completely. There is space to negotiate things. I think that's almost always true in Afghanistan, but we all have to be very cautious on it because, in so many domains, the Taliban have been violating their promises."

Under the Taliban, so far, it seems the museum is being spared the worst from its past. But it's also not clear that it can return to what it once was anytime soon.

Visitors take in a display at Afghanistan's National Museum soon after it reopened in December. Ahmad Sahel Arman/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Visitors take in a display at Afghanistan's National Museum soon after it reopened in December.

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The Taliban now guard Afghanistan's National Museum, where they once smashed objects - NPR

A year after the Taliban took over Afghanistan, Ahmad Massoud the founder and leader of National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, the key opposition to the Taliban says the country has moved several steps back on all fronts. In an exclusive interview to The Indian Express from an undisclosed location, the 33-year-old son of legendary fighter Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was known as the Lion of Panjshir, talked about the situation in Afghanistan under Taliban, Pakistans role in supporting the Taliban and terrorist groups, and how he wants help from India in military logistics and the resistance from guerrilla fighters within Afghanistan.

What is your assessment of the Afghan situation under Taliban rule in the last one year?

I can say that under the rule of the Taliban, Afghanistan took not just one, or two but many big steps back, from political, social and economic development, and from tolerance, openness, acceptance and many other aspects of our society. We have lost the rule of law, institutions, and the trust of the people.

Afghanistan has become isolated once again. It has also became a hub for terrorism under Taliban rule. Lets not forget that women have completely lost their rights to study, to work, to be part of the government and even to live.

The minorities, like Sikhs and Shias, have lost their sense of security, safety and acceptance in society. We have lost the freedom of speech and we have lost freedom as a whole. Afghanistan has gone back to the dark ages.

What are you fighting for?

I do not want power and my struggle is for justice right now. There is no such thing as justice in Afghanistan. My people are being targeted and persecuted. There is no freedom. There is no right for women or for other ethnicities. Theres tyranny in my country. So in this situation, my fight, it is for justice and freedom. I do not want anything for myself as long as I see my country breathing the air of freedom and having a just government which is appointed by the people.

You mentioned the issue of terrorism. Al Qaeda chief Al Zawahiri was living in Kabul and was killed in a drone attack. What does that tell you about existence of terror groups?

I believe that this was a good step, one evil man less in this world. However, it was not surprising for us that the Taliban was harbouring Zawahiri. Our intelligence, from Taliban and Al Qaedas behaviour, indicated that the two are in complete cooperation. The Taliban are harbouring them, and many other terrorist groups are now active in Afghanistan. They are walking around and operating freely. In the last one year, we have tried to explain to the world that giving in to the will of the Taliban is giving in to the will of terrorism as a whole. We must put all the pressure required to make them accountable to international law, especially when it comes to countering terrorism, and also establishing a justice system.

How do you see Pakistans role in their support to the Taliban and the terrorist infrastructure?

Pakistan has always played this double game, that they always try to support the groups which destabilise other countries without understanding the consequences of it. Right now, they have a lot of issues internally, too, and it is due to their own behaviour regarding the people of Afghanistan and the situation of Afghanistan. They obviously accept it that they supported the Taliban, they harboured them for the past 20 years. The leaders were found there, and if Afghanistan was not recaptured by the Taliban, we could definitely see the killing of Ayman Al Zawahiri in Pakistan, instead of Kabul just like Osama bin Laden. So Pakistan has supported and harboured Al Qaeda, the Taliban and many other groups.

Instead of supporting a legitimate, independent ally in Afghanistan, called the government of the Republic of Afghanistan with all the differences, they took the wrong path and the wrong strategy, which caused Afghanistan to fall. This is a fire that Pakistan played with, and we will see sooner or later that it will backfire at them. I believe that Pakistan wanted Afghanistan to become a Waziristan, they didnt want all those terror camps to exist inside Pakistan. So, they pushed it all inside Afghanistan, and they didnt care about the Afghan people. As I speak most of the terrorists coming to my country are still coming through Pakistan.

Pakistan played the role of a supporter and mentor to the Taliban. However, people of Afghanistan were hoping that despite all the differences in the past 20 years, Pakistan will show that it actually changed its strategy and policy and finally, they will become a sensible and good neighbour to all of us. But they showed that they have not changed.

The rule of the Taliban will be a safe haven, and especially when there is no legitimate government in Kabul. It is a safe haven for many terrorist groups, Jaish-e-Mohammed and many others which are a threat to India, and to all countries in the region. For them to flourish, to use Afghanistan to operate, to recruit and strategically target their own sort of targets. The events in Kashmir have multiplied since the takeover of the Taliban. There is a direct link between Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban and the increase in the violence in Kashmir and also increase in the violence of these terrorist groups because they see the possibility that if we continue the bloodshed and the terror acts, just like the Taliban, we will also be supported, we will also be successful in establishing an extremist government somewhere else. It is very important for all of us to put all efforts together and to defeat this extremist narrative, because it is spreading.

How do you see Indias role, and will this spread to India?

Absolutely, this fire will burn many countries. We saw the events that happened at the Iranian border, a clash between Uzbek border forces and the Taliban, similar things happening with Tajiks and probably, we will see some clashes with Turkmens as well. Afghanistan will become a safe haven for groups which will target Indias security interests. Without a shred of doubt we will see an increase in violence and in motivation. Terrorist groups have all congratulated Taliban for their victory and establishment of a Sharia government. It is not Islamic in my personal opinion. It is very much important not to allow such mentality and ideology to take root.

Your father Ahmad Shah Massoud fought the Taliban, led the Northern Alliance, and was supported by India. What is the difference in Indias approach?

I think the difference in approach is the hesitation. India is still in the process of assessing the situation. This hesitation is fatal. It is very wrong. And we need immediate action before the ideology takes root or before the terrorist find a foundation. It is very important to understand we are on the same page, and we are continuing the same path of my father. So the sooner the hesitation is over, the sooner we come to the conclusion that there should be a joint effort together against terrorism in the region, the better. Because whether we like it or not, we are the last line of defence of Afghanistans people against terrorism.

So what is the situation of the resistance now within Afghanistan or any other areas?

We have managed to do a few things in the past one year. First, we created a command and control centre which we lacked before but we are in our infancy. We have no support from outside whatsoever. It is based on the generosity of our own people and their commitment and desire to continue to resist and fight. We started from Panjshir valley, and expanded to Herat, Faryab, Mazhar, Kunduz, Baghlan, Takhar and Badakhshan. We have our forces in all of these provinces, including in Parwan, Kapisa. We have more than 3,500 forces. We support them, give them a salary and they are fighting. But our tactic at this moment is exactly what my father used against the Soviets at that time, which was guerrilla warfare. The Taliban have not had many attacks on us. Their success is limited and they achieved nothing. They kill innocent civilians. They are capturing and imprisoning the families of those resistance and our fighters.

Have you been in touch or have you reached out to any Indian government official or representatives for help?

I have reached out to all the countries which I believe could play a role in Afghanistan, and to let them know the situation and also to let them know our readiness. Instead of running away from my countrys problems, or seeking refuge in other countries, or going to the West and living a normal life, to tell them that there is a generation ready to stand up, to resist and not allow for terrorism to take off. I have reached out to India, but the hesitation has been a block. When it comes to the Indian policies, especially after another collapse of a Republic, which was a partner of India, there was a period which the Indian government required to assess the situation. But I hope we see some real moves by our longtime friends, in support of the people of Afghanistan and their struggle for freedom soon.

Could you tell me who you reached out to in the Indian establishment?

We have sent messages to all levels of the government. I have sent my representatives to talk to many countries regarding the situation in Afghanistan.

Is Amrullah Saleh, who worked with your father, and with India still with you. And what help do you want in concrete terms?

Yes, Mr. Saleh is with us and he is a part of the struggle. And he also believes that there should be an effort together to liberate the country. And regarding India, we require a few things.

We need a political solution and we need the whole region and the world to put political pressure on the Taliban for them to establish a legitimate, inclusive government through the decision of the Afghan people. My experience shows that just by condemnations or releasing statements, the Taliban will not surrender. What we need is a continuation of the resistance, working together to liberate the country or part of the country to put pressure on the Taliban to come to this acceptance. This was my fathers vision. He said we need the Taliban to come to the terms of the world and to the region that we require a legitimate, acceptable government by all.

People are ready to stand up and fight, but they need support. The new generation, especially the women and the young, want to stand up. The most important thing is the political support and logistics. People of Afghanistan want to fight and to continue resistance against terrorism.

Do you want India to give military help?

We will accept help from any country willing to help us. The Taliban are receiving support from international terrorist groups, and they are bringing oppression and tyranny on my people. We do not have the lack of expertise, people and soldiers, but we lack logistics.

I was not part of the government and the resistance was created after the fall of the Republic. All the logistics and everything which was in the hand of the Republic, the Taliban took all of that. Everything that we have is because of the generosity of the people. If you see that in the past one year, we survived the winters, the Taliban revenge attacks. We did not go away. In fact we are spreading very fast. It is all happening with literally no outside support. So just imagine how successful it will be with the support. We have, on one side, a terrorist administration, which is supported by some terrorist-supported state. And, on the other side, we have the democratic, moderate and true patriots of Afghanistan fighting for their own country against international terrorism with nothing.

India has revived its diplomatic mission and is extending humanitarian support. But you seem to want more than just food grains.

With all my heart, Im thankful and grateful for the support that India has been giving. I thank the Indian government and amazing Indian people. And I urge them to continue the support because Afghanistan is going towards a humanitarian crisis. The people have nothing to eat.

However, it is very important to monitor it because my intelligence shows that the Taliban has used this humanitarian support for their own forces and their families, not the people truly in need. They are not distributing aid justly, and they give it to one area more than the others based on ethnicity.

We saw what happened with the Sikhs. Unfortunately, the brutality of Taliban and the terrorism is beyond imagination. We saw the catastrophic impact on the Sikh community of Afghanistan which broke my heart. And harder than the attack, was the departure of my Sikh brothers and sisters from Afghanistan, which is totally understandable. But I never imagined that they would be forced to leave their homes. They are a part of us and we are a part of you.

I believe that we cannot change anything with just interaction, condemnation or humanitarian support. We need to take some measurable, strong and concrete decision in countering terrorism. Engaging with terrorism should not be an option.

There is a perception that Taliban captured the country, but is unable to manage it.

We knew that the Taliban are good at fighting but they are not good as a government. For example, when the people had nothing to eat, their leader said that this is from God, they need to accept it. When it comes to womens education, they ask why women need education when they have their husbands. When the economy was bad, their leaders said they should pray. So this is their approach. It doesnt matter how bad the situation gets for the Taliban, it wont get as bad as going back to the caves. For them, this is heaven. They do not care about the well-being of the people of Afghanistan, and they just want to stay in power. They are obsessed with it.

And thousands of credible and talented Afghans have left the country teachers, nurses, doctors. Right now, Afghanistan lacks personnel. They cannot continue to rule like this. And many who were optimistic about the Taliban one year ago are very skeptical right now. They are not happy with the situation and they dont see any hope at the end of this dark tunnel.

The Taliban offered you a role in the government in the regime. Why didnt you take it up?

Yes, when I met the Taliban Foreign Minister Mr [Amir Khan] Mottaqi in Tehran in January, he offered me a ministers position in the government. There was nothing official, he said it verbally. I told them that Mr Mottaqi, you got it all wrong. My struggle is not to find a place for myself. Both Mr [Ashraf] Ghani and Mr [Hamid] Karzai had asked me to become a minister and I had refused. My concern at that time was corruption in the way of governing. And I told them that the way they governed would end in a catastrophe, which is what happened.

I told Mr Mottaqi that we fought for 20 years, but right now there is an opportunity that all of us can establish a just government through a legitimate process. Lets all go and join a legitimate process. In 2001, when the Mujahideen came, instead of establishing their own government they all gathered at the Bonn conference with leaders from different sides of the political spectrum of Afghanistan. They all agreed in that process, and the sort of transition period that was acceptable by the region and the world. I want the cycle of violence to end. Lets all accept an intra Afghan dialogue, similar to the Bonn conference, to create a transition period and a process to create a legitimate government. Then if 90 per cent of the government comprises the Taliban, I will accept it. But the process must be accepted by the Afghan people and the world. Right now, you came to power with the barrel of a gun. Even if I join you, it doesnt mean the people will join. It means that Im also dipping myself in the pool of dirt. I cannot be a part of a government which does not believe in the rule of people and the rule of law. Im a strong believer of a democratic government that requires people to decide for their own fate and future. It doesnt matter if they even proposed the leadership of that government to me, I do not accept.

You were one of the young Afghans who studied overseas and then came back to Afghanistan for a better future. Do you think it is an opportunity lost after 20 years of hard work rebuilding the country?

Absolutely. You have no idea how many days and nights I spent imagining if we as a new generation had a few more years of stability, and the things that we could do to prevent this catastrophe. There was a great opportunity. But it was lost. We had a strong institution called army and armed forces, which was lost due to the bad policies, bad politicians and bad neighbours.

We had in the past one year an opportunity to build a stronger government to withstand all of these bad intentions and violence. I never imagined in a million years when I was studying in London, I would go back to my country and fight because Im not a violent person and I hate war, just like my father. It has always been forced upon us. I do not like it. I have no choice but to defend my people because they are invading my house, my family, my people and my nation. Theres no choice but to stand up. However, my expertise is for the political solutions in Afghanistan. But before my generation could get into politics, or do something beneficial for our country, the collapse happened. I feel so sad and upset sometimes thinking about what a great opportunity was lost.

What do you miss most in Afghanistan?

My people. I just miss the eyes of my people, their hands, their laughter, the hope and love of my people.

Of course, I love the country and its geography too. But without its people, geography is nothing. Afghanistan has the best people in the world and the worst politicians. This is our destiny.

And Im just trying to be someone who loves his people and does everything for its people and to follow the path of my father. Its a huge responsibility and I pray to God every day and to make me successful, to make me do something to be worthy of the amazing people of Afghanistan.

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'Afghanistan has gone back to the dark ages': Ahmad Massoud - The Indian Express

On August 22, 2021, shortly after the Taliban had seized Kabul, Ahmad Siddiqi drove the darkened streets of Afghanistans capital city. Because he had been an interpreter for the U.S. for 20 years, he knew the Taliban were searching for him and he was afraid to go home.

An American contact messaged him and told him to quickly gather his family and head to the airport, where U.S. soldiers would help them evacuate the country.

Siddiqi rushed home, assembled his wife, Horia, and their four children, grabbed a few provisions and made for the airport. There was no time to say goodbye to his parents or other relatives, and it wouldnt have been safe anyway. Because he had worked with American forces, his relatives could have been in danger just for knowing him.

The airport was chaotic. The Siddiqis were directed to one gate after another before they found American soldiers. But the Americans were on the other side of a sewage ditch, which the family had to wade through to reach the soldiers.

A few hours later, the family boarded an American military aircraft with almost 500 other evacuees.

Siddiqi remembers the faces of the other people on board: The unhappiness, the sorrow, the pain. You could see it.

That flight was the beginning of a months-long journey that had stops in Qatar, Italy, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The Siddiqi kids were skeptical of the riches their father had promised America would provide, like Spiderman and pizza. But American friends had sent the family a $200 gift card, and while the family was waiting at an airport in New Jersey, Siddiqi told his kids they could use the card to buy food. They ate all the hamburgers and fries they could. I [said], this is proofYou are in the U.S. now.

In Colorado, the American friends who had donated that gift card were waiting.

Retired Army Captain Scott Henkel had met Siddiqi in 2006 when he was stationed in Afghanistan and working as part of a Provincial Reconstruction Team.

Siddiqi was Henkels interpreter during that work, and the two men had stayed in touch through the years. As the situation in Afghanistan deteriorated, the Henkels lobbied U.S. officials to get the Siddiqis out of the country, and offered them a safe haven in Broomfield.

On Oct. 5, 2021, the family arrived at Denver International Airport.

The year since has been hard. Though Siddiqi has two college degrees, has worked for the U.S. Military, the State Department and the United Nations in Afghanistan, he has struggled to find a job that even comes close to his skillset. Right now, he delivers for HelloFresh and drives for a ride-share company. He looks for jobs better suited for his skills every day, but so far his cover letters have gone unanswered.

Though he misses Afghanistan and the family he left behind, there is no real hope of a return. The kids enjoy school and the family is doing its best to adjust to life here.

Colorado opened its arms and embraced us and gave us a home. That is home at this moment. I cannot go to Afghanistan, Siddiqi said.

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One year after fleeing Afghanistan, these refugees have settled in Broomfield - Colorado Public Radio