A Seattle-area Afghan American reacts to ‘stolen hope’

As the longest war in United States history comes to an end, fears that the withdrawal could lead to disaster have materialized. The chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan has tragic consequences for Afghans and Afghan Americans.

Seattle has a small but vibrant Afghan American community. KUOW’s Paige Browning spoke to Bahana Naimzadeh, whose parents came to the United States in 1979 when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan.

This interview was edited for the sake of clarity.

Paige Browning: First of all, I really can’t imagine what it would be like for you and your family and other Afghan Americans to watch this. How are you doing?

Bahana Naimzadeh: It was really devastating. It’s just that constant loop where you feel hopeless and then angry and then just try to breathe and then just try again. We just keep getting more and more news that comes out of there. It’s hard not to be angry and it’s hard not to be sad. I’m just not sure what’s next.

Did you expect such a result at all? Or did you see that things are going differently?

I didn’t think it would go that fast. I had read the news that they had said it would be 90 days before it would fall and I was hoping it wouldn’t happen; I think we all were. I was pretty shocked. I can tell you that yesterday was one of the worst days of my life.

When my parents left, they told us stories about how they left. Over the years we’ve read The Kite Runners, and we’ve read The Thousand Glorious Suns. I think we would all say, “This is definitely not going to happen anymore.” To see it happen and for it to be accepted – there are news sources that other international communities will accept the new power – is all this hopelessness, anger loop. This is how it all starts, right there. It’s just shock and disbelief.

It pains me to hear you are having some of the worst days of your life. As far as I know, you were born and raised in Washington State. What emotional or physical connections do you feel with Afghanistan? What connections do you have?

My parents raised me to be an Afghan American. As much as I am American, I am also Afghan. It’s my appearance. It’s in my name Even though Afghanistan wasn’t so close to my heart when someone met me, he always asked: “Where does your name come from? What is your background?”

I can sense that you are proud to have that connection.

So much pride I proudly bear the Afghan American name. I’m always the first to say this proudly because my parents raised me to be proud of my culture, my country, my nation – all of that. We never noticed that when we were children.

At the dining table, my father only said Farsi. We weren’t allowed to speak English because my father always said, “You will learn English no matter what, but in your home country you have to master that language if you ever want to return.” And we were allowed to go back. We went back in 2008. I got to know my aunts whom I had never met. I have two aunts in Kabul right now. I need to see my cousins. I saw where my mother and father grew up, where they met, which schools they went to.

Every time I think about it, I get super emotional because I remember the time my mom got off the plane. It was the first time she was back since leaving and she kissed the floor. You know – it’s home. Home is home, and I also feel this piece of home. We have so much family there. I always dream of going back and visiting. I just don’t know if I’ll have this chance.

How are your parents?

It’s hard to tell honestly. I think they are strong for me, for my sister, because they hear us cry. But I can’t imagine because it’s a repetition of what they went through. I think everyone in our community has one vote right now; we hurt ourselves so much and then they look at it and relive those moments of trying to escape. It’s like seeing the same thing – like history is repeating itself.

The thing about Afghans is that they always say Afghans are strong and resilient. I can see that in my parents, who try to console me when it really is their home.

You said you have aunts and cousins ​​there. What did you hear from them?

You are scared. They are worried. You’re just unsure of the future. At this point, they are just waiting to see what will happen. I think they are trying to be strong too, right? You must have some kind of hope. I think they are only trying to hope for the best, despite being incredibly concerned and unsure of what the future holds.

If you are an Afghan American or want to tell a story about the situation in Afghanistan we would love to hear from you. Please call 206-221-1926 or click the feedback button at the edge of this page.

Listen to the interview by clicking the play button above.