Afghanistan and its enduring ‘unfreedom’
When the world descended on Afghanistan in 2001, Afghans believed it was about them, about a better life for them. It never was. It never is.
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The anniversary of the Taliban’s 2021 takeover brought to mind searing images of that American C-17 aircraft taking off, despite the human beings clinging to its wings, doors and wheel well, reminding me of just how little successive foreign interventions have been about Afghans, their wellbeing and prosperity.
On August 13, the Taliban celebrated the anniversary at a ceremony at the Bagram Air Base north of the Afghan capital Kabul. That same Bagram base was once the epicentre of America’s 2001 invasion of Afghanistan known as Operation Enduring Freedom – in hindsight, a poor name choice.
While analysts and experts used the anniversary to offer their thoughts on Afghanistan’s past, present and some to speculate on the future, I was reminded of 24-year-old Fida Mohammad and 17-year-old Zaki Anwari.
A dentist and a dreamer
Fida was a newly married dentist from nearby Parwan Province and Zaki was just 17 years old, an up-and-coming soccer star – or so he thought. Both were among the many Afghan men, and boys, who descended on Kabul International Airport on August 16, 2021 – one day after the Taliban’s return.
The United States, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – NATO – and just about every embassy were scrambling to get out of town. The...
