Indian in Kabul: 'Taliban trying to be different'

'When the Taliban took over there was a genuine fear that they will harm me, but right now that fear is not there.'

What does it mean to be an Indian staying in Kabul right now?

After the Taliban took control of the Afghanistan capital, all eyes are on the Indian citizens stranded in the city.

The Taliban was known to be an enemy of India in its earlier avatar (1996-2001). So how are Indians being treated by the new Taliban regime in Kabul?

Are they under attack? Are they scared? Are they hopeful of coming back to India?

Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com spoke to an Indians stranded in Kabul.

Understandably, he wished to remain anonymous while narrating his experiences under the Taliban regime.

I was to leave Afghanistan for India on the same day the Taliban captured Kabul.

You will be shocked to know that I came on August 10 to Kabul for a week. I had some urgent office work and my return flight was on August 16.

I had no idea that my world would turn upside down within days.

Some of my colleagues left for India on August 15 morning. Even at that time I had no idea that Kabul would fall to the Taliban.

Many US experts had predicted that it would take at least 90 days for the Taliban to take Kabul, and I too believed them.

When I look back at the events of last week, I feel everything was scripted from day one and, like, everyone knew the Taliban was going to take over Afghanistan by August 16.

The Afghan army fell like a pack of cards.

It was unbelievable, they just ran away and did not pick up a fight with the Taliban.

It is three days of Taliban rule in Kabul and till now they have not unleashed violence on citizens.

This was the worst fear of citizens of Kabul. Luckily, the Taliban is trying to be different this time.

I hope they remain the same.

The people who are most scared are the ones who worked for the Americans in Kabul.

These citizens are petrified that their names are on the Taliban's list of enemies and they will be targeted in the future.

America is giving SIV (special immigration visas) to such people. Many of them have got an SIV and left Kabul, but unfortunately many are still stranded.

America and most European countries have shut down their embassies and people don't know how to get a visa and emigrate.

As far as my knowledge is concerned, except the Russian embassy in Kabul all the other embassies have shut down.

Indian embassy staff have also left, but local Afghans are managing the Indian embassy for now.

Nobody knows how many Indian citizens work in Afghanistan.

Some say 1,000 Indians are stranded. Some say 2,000 Indians are stranded. These include some 250 Afghan origin Sikhs and Hindus.

I feel the Indian embassy should have acted a bit fast in the evacuation process, but unfortunately that did not happen.

The Indians who left for India are the embassy staff and ITBP jawans. Very few Indian civilians left with them.

The entire operation was a clandestine one, and one understands that they could not have publicised the Indian flight leaving Kabul for India.

Many Indians knew that an Indian flight was leaving Kabul, but unfortunately many could not make it to the airport that day.

The Taliban had set up checkpoints at many places. Road traffic in Kabul is in the Taliban's control now.

If I had left on August 16, then my life would have been at risk on the roads of Kabul.

I read that Prime Minister Modi held a meeting to assess the situation in Afghanistan. I believe in him and I am hopeful that rescue will soon come to us in Kabul.

Many Indian citizens living in Afghanistan did not register themselves with the Indian embassy and consulates. It takes two minutes to register on the Indian embassy Web site in Afghanistan, but many Indians did not do so due to which they are stranded now.

Indian embassy staffers in Afghanistan were extremely cooperative and helpful. Sadly, a lackadaisical attitude prevailed among many of our citizens, which is really unfortunate.

At present there is no shortage of food or water where I am staying. Power cuts, which were routine in Kabul, has increased in the last two days, but we have generators on which we run our electricity.

When the Taliban took over, there was a genuine fear that they will harm me, but right now that fear is not there.

Now the only concern is when I will go back to India.

One surprising news for me was when the Taliban told the media that Indians can complete their unfinished projects in Afghanistan.

(The Taliban during its earlier rule from 1996-2001 had no diplomatic ties with India. In fact, it did not have diplomatic ties with most countries, except Pakistan and Saudi Arabia).

We are hoping that the Taliban continues to act responsibly towards foreign citizens and the citizens of Afghanistan.

At present, the Indians stranded here are very active on e-mail and WhatsApp.

We are in touch with Indian government officials and I am told good news will soon come to the Indians stranded in Kabul.

The Indians who are stuck here are mostly those who work for big organisations and right now they are under the cover of good security.

Right now, the streets of Kabul are calm. There are few cars on the roads though, and few people in the markets.

People thought the Taliban would enter homes to find 'traitors', but they have not done that yet.

At Kabul airport, no commercial planes are operating. It is only airforce planes of different countries or United Nations planes that are operating.

My family in India is worried about my safety. but I told them not to worry. Things will improve soon and I will be back in India.

I am hoping by next week flights from Kabul to India will resume for stranded Indian citizens.

• The return of the Taliban