Experience of Afghanistan-returnee Nepalis: Taliban do not open fire though they march along Kabul streets

KATHMANDU, Aug 17: Nepali nationals returning from Afghanistan have been kept in a quarantine center at Samakushi in Kathmandu.

As many as 118 Nepalis returned from Afghanistan via Doha, Qatar on Tuesday alone. Former security personnel currently working as security guards in Kabul were among those returning on Tuesday. 

The Nepal Army carried out antigen tests of those people to check if they contracted COVID-19. If any of them tests positive for COVID-19, they will be sent to isolation centers for further treatment.

Nepal Army took these people toSamakushi-based quarantine center on eight buses. Rabindra Thapa peeped out from the bus and said “ We did not have to suffer. The American Embassy in Kabul took good care of us. We did not have to panic as we were kept safely there. The Embassy managed everything for our safe return to Nepal and as expected we did arrive here safely.”

Bishal Rai who worked in Kabul as a security guard for the past seven years -- who also returned home on Tuesday -- shared that the Taliban have allowed people to return to their homes. “I was in Afghanistan for the past seven years. I worked for the American Embassy there. The American Embassy is doing its best to send foreign nationals there safely to their homes. However, I have also heard that some other people who were working for some companies illegally have been kidnapped.”

“There were no such difficulties for me but I am unaware about Nepali people living in other states” he added.

“Even if the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, they are allowing foreign nationals to return to their homes. People are allowed to travel from one place to another. Foreign Embassies have already been emptied.”

Prem Bahadur Pun, another Nepali national who returned from Afghanistan on Tuesday said that there was no such danger for Nepali nationals living there. “It is true that Taliban are patrolling the roads with guns and bombs but they won’t shoot you at the sight.”