Ali Shah is safe in the confines of his Jamshedpur home, which is 2,100 kms away from his hamlet in Kabul but he is worried sick about what the Taliban government has in store for the members of his family back home.
Shah is not the only Afghan living at various localities of Jamshedpur, who is wary of the unknown danger looming large over their families residing in troubled Afghanistan.
Shah who stays at a rented accommodation at Bistupur’s Dhatkidih area had returned to Jamshedpur in the month of April after having spent a year in Kabul.
Giving an account of the quality of life in Kabul, the 48-year-old Shah said, “Everything was normal for him in Kabul where he used to work for a living, till four months back.”
While talking to The Telegraph Online, he said, “I am worried about my younger brother’s widow and her four daughters, who are now having to live under the Taliban regime, which will enact the harsh Sharia laws sooner or later.”
Shah, a bachelor, like many Afghans in India is a money lender. He said that his family owns a house at Arzan Qimat in Kabul.
“I had talked to my brother’s family a fortnight ago, but after the Taliban took over, we have not been able to communicate with my kin, despite my frantic efforts. God knows what will happen to the children,” he said in a nervous tone.
Like Shah, another Afghan, who requested to be identified with his first name Gul only, also was vocal about his concern about the uncertain future of his family in Afghanistan.
Apprehensive about the life in store for the women of the country, Gul said, “The most painful part of the Talibani regime is the impact it will have on the lives of the girls. I may have to bear the brunt as I have two school-going daughters in Kabul.”
Gul who also refused to pose for a photograph despite residing in a safe place like Jamshedpur. He maintained that he was disturbed due to the situation in his homeland where people’s life is bound to be turned into a living hell.
At least 100 Afghans, known as Kabuliwala have been residing in the steel city, but their number has now reduced to a single digit as rest of them have returned to their country due to the pandemic.