Five years ago, Abdul Razaq Khan, a former translator and assistant for Canadian journalists during the Afghan conflict, received a late-night text from one of the reporters he had guided through the chaotic streets of Kandahar. At that time, he was trying to rest in his Kabul residence after transitioning to a position at the American aid organization USAID following Canada’s departure from Afghanistan.
During the summer of 2021, the Taliban made significant advances toward Kabul. Concerned about Khan’s well-being, the journalist messaged him asking if he was alright. Khan expressed his distress, likening the situation to doomsday for them.
Now, five years later and having resettled safely in Canada, Khan still struggles to comprehend the loss of his job, home, and homeland, as well as the series of events that led to the rapid downfall of the government supported by Western nations. Reflecting on his experience, Khan remarked, “I had to depart my country. No one leaves their homeland willingly.”
