Afghanistan (MNN) — Last August, all eyes were on Kabul as the United States rushed to leave Afghanistan. The withdrawal remains a black mark on U.S. President Joe Biden’s foreign policy record.
Biden’s administration defends the decision, while opponents call for accountability and accuse the president of breaking promises to Afghan allies.
Shahnaz*, an Afghan Christian, says many Afghans feel betrayed. “They are upset because everything changed; every single thing they had planned or programmed, it changed,” she explains.
“Transition is always hard. But this kind of transition is more difficult, more hard.”
Hope remains
Today, the world’s attention is elsewhere, but Afghanistan’s dire needs remain unmet. Millions rely on humanitarian aid to survive another day. One aid worker says this Taliban regime is worse than the one that ruled during the ‘90s.
(Photo courtesy of Heart4Iran)
“People are scared. They [are afraid]; we need the peace of the Lord [to] touch their heart,” Shahnaz says.
“They say, ‘Each day when we go out, we are not sure [if] we are coming back home or not.’”
Shahnaz and her husband Hossein lead a trauma counseling call center and Dari Virtual Church under Heart4Iran’s newest initiative, Heart4Afghanistan. The call center offers hope to Afghans like Abdullah*.
“He was so thankful I called him. Crying is not easy for Afghan men, but he was crying so hard. It broke my heart,” Shahnaz says.
“He said, ‘I came to Christ nine months ago after Taliban took over the country. I was so overwhelmed. I thought everybody forgot about me; everybody forgot about us.’”
Abdullah told her, “I have so many problems, so many difficulties… but I don’t want to [focus on those] because for nine months now, I have not prayed with my brothers and sisters, I have not worshipped [with others]. So let’s pray and worship,” Shahnaz says.
“We prayed, worshipped, just listened to a (Dari) song. He prayed for the country, Afghanistan, and believers’ protection. It was a beautiful moment. He said, ‘This is true love. I experienced it.’”
Help Afghan Christians through Heart4Afghanistan. Most importantly, pray. “Pray for the security for all the believers now left behind. So many key people came out, but we have so many left behind,” Shahnaz says.
*Names changed for security purposes.
In the header image, A U.S. Air Force security forces raven, assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, maintains security aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in support of the Afghanistan evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA), Afghanistan, Aug. 24, 2021. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Donald R. Allen)