American Snuck into Afghanistan to Save His Sisters
Asks State Department for a diplomatic solution to overland escape. New #EmilyPosts here: emilypostnews.com/p/american-snu…
Asks State Department for a diplomatic solution to overland escape. New #EmilyPosts here: emilypostnews.com/p/american-snu…
Ali said he was shaking when he saw the Taliban at the border checkpoint of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.
Just two days earlier, he was with his wife in their Connecticut home.
Just two days earlier, he was with his wife in their Connecticut home.
“In our society, it’s the brother's job to take care of the sister,” he told me by phone from Kabul, where he’s been since Aug. 27.
He’s on a desperate mission to try to get his sisters out of Afghanistan. #EmilyPosts
He’s on a desperate mission to try to get his sisters out of Afghanistan. #EmilyPosts
When Ali first reached out to me, I admit that I didn’t fully believe his story.
Could there really be an American man who went to Kabul when every other American was begging for the last seats on the flights out of there?
Yes.
Could there really be an American man who went to Kabul when every other American was begging for the last seats on the flights out of there?
Yes.
"@TMobile had great service — free roaming! I’ll do an ad for it." - American man took taxis from Uzbekistan to Kabul to save his sisters and had cell phone service the whole drive.
In the three weeks that he has been in Afghanistan, American Ali has adapted to the dangers:
“I’ve already blended in. I grew my beard. I don’t use my phone with any U.S. information. I don't carry any documents, not my U.S. passport. I have to act like this is my normal way.”
“I’ve already blended in. I grew my beard. I don’t use my phone with any U.S. information. I don't carry any documents, not my U.S. passport. I have to act like this is my normal way.”
The danger is constant for an American in Afghanistan:
“I see the Taliban going to another building, and then I hear shots. I just think, ‘Please don’t come to this building. Please,’” he said “We wake every kid at night to be ready to move.”
“I see the Taliban going to another building, and then I hear shots. I just think, ‘Please don’t come to this building. Please,’” he said “We wake every kid at night to be ready to move.”
Ali wants Americans with Afghan family members to go overland to escape:
“If @SecBlinken can talk to the foreign minister of Pakistan or Uzbekistan or Tajikistan, then give us a piece of paper to show at the port of entry, at least we will be safer in one of those places.”
“If @SecBlinken can talk to the foreign minister of Pakistan or Uzbekistan or Tajikistan, then give us a piece of paper to show at the port of entry, at least we will be safer in one of those places.”
He points out that the U.S. is setting up a possible intelligence problem by not letting Afghan family members come to America:
“The Taliban is going to use everyone who is left here as leverage,” Ali said.
“The Taliban is going to use everyone who is left here as leverage,” Ali said.
I’ve been texting and calling with Ali often, and he answers immediately, no matter what time it is in Kabul.
I asked him today, “Do you ever sleep?”
He replied, “With one eye open.”
I asked him today, “Do you ever sleep?”
He replied, “With one eye open.”
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