Abdul Razaq Khan, a former translator and fixer who supported Canadian journalists during the Afghan war, received a late-night message five years ago from a journalist he had guided through the chaotic streets of Kandahar. At that time, he had moved to a job at the American aid agency USAID after the Canadian withdrawal from Afghanistan. In 2021, as the Taliban advanced on Kabul, Khan was asked if he was safe. Reflecting on the events that led to the swift collapse of the western-backed government, Khan, now resettled in Canada, struggles to come to terms with losing his job, home, and country.
For Khan, leaving Afghanistan was a necessity rather than a choice. Fleeing on foot across the Pakistani border just before the Taliban took control of Kabul, he narrowly escaped danger. His work with Canadian media outlets, including The Canadian Press, CTV News, and Postmedia, made him a target, a risk shared by many Afghans who collaborated with journalists, military forces, and aid organizations.
The Taliban’s victory not only displaced hundreds of thousands of Afghans but also ushered in a strict, authoritarian regime that sidelined women from public life, suppressed free media and dissent, and enforced stringent moral codes through a dedicated ministry. Organizations like The Zan Times have highlighted the escalating violence against women in Afghanistan, with alarming statistics revealing a lack of accountability for crimes against women.
While efforts were made to evacuate high-risk individuals such as female judges, activists, journalists, and politicians, the process faced challenges. As per the Allied Ledger report by Local Staff International and AfghanEvac, allied nations struggled with both the evacuation and resettlement of vulnerable Afghans. Despite Canada’s efforts to resettle over 60,000 Afghans, there are still many left vulnerable under Taliban rule.
U.S. Senator Chris Coons stressed the importance of honoring promises made to those who risked their lives for American and NATO troops, emphasizing the need to fulfill commitments in this critical chapter of recent history. The Allied Ledger report serves as a reminder of nations’ responsibilities in safeguarding those who stood by them during challenging times.