INTERVIEW: "Afghanistan is not an experimental laboratory"

After almost 20 years of presence in Afghanistan, most NATO and US troops have left the country at the Hindu Kush. The radical Islamist Taliban were then able to almost "seize power without a fight." Their goal: the establishment of an Islamic state. Out of fear, tens of thousands of people fled towards the airport in the days after the takeover - the dramatic images went around the world. But what about the people who are still enduring in Kabul or the rural provinces? "The international community has abandoned us," says Farzana Kochai in an emotional FaceTime call with Sven Lilienström, founder of the Faces of Peace initiative. The 29-year-old Afghan parliamentarian is desperate: "The only thing we can do is pray to Allah!"

Ms. Kochai, thank you very much for taking the time for an interview despite the disturbing events. We would like to ask you first and foremost: What does peace mean to you personally?

For me, peace means being able to do whatever I want. Every day, without having to fear repression. I understand peace as the recognition and respect for human rights and gender equality. In a peaceful world, there is no place for discrimination - no violence against specific ethnic groups or religious minorities. When our society combines all these attributes, this state can be defined as peace. At least that's my understanding of peace.

Every day we see new dramatic images from Afghanistan - most recently from Kabul. You are a member of the Afghan parliament. What is the situation in Kabul like? How are you doing - are you safe?

The situation in Kabul is extremely dynamic. We do not know what will happen in the next few minutes, hours, or days. We do not know because we have just lost our government and everything we have built over the last 20 years and before. We have lost everything and no one feels responsible - no one! The international community has abandoned us. Now, our lives depend on the goodwill of the Taliban, whom we fought against for so long. Our future depends on the goodwill of the Taliban. We, the civilian population, have no rights and no power to do anything.

This also answers your question about my safety. The world is currently talking to the leaders of the Taliban in Doha to ensure the safety of the so-called "local staff." We appreciate that. But I wish we had someone who takes care of us too!

The withdrawal of US troops and the takeover of power by the radical Islamist Taliban have plunged Afghanistan into chaos. Was the troop withdrawal a mistake? Who do you blame for the situation?

The whole world is responsible for what is happening in Afghanistan right now. With Afghanistan collapsing in the 21st century, a whole nation collapses, and responsible for that is a small "group of people" - the Taliban. And that, even though almost the whole world was here to fight against them. We knew what would happen if the Taliban came back to power. We knew because they had already done it in the past!

Now, with all these things happening - who is responsible? My answer is: the whole world. I am not talking about individual countries or civilians; we are very grateful to all of them because they have done a lot for Afghanistan - especially for women and children and their future in this country. Those in charge have failed; the decision-makers have made fatal mistakes. Afghanistan is not a testing ground where the world can test new strategies or decisions at will to see what works and what doesn't!

Here at the Hindu Kush, it's about more than 30 million people - it's about 30 million lives! About their present and future. And their safety. Afghanistan is not the world's laboratory, the people in Afghanistan are not guinea pigs. Today, every Afghan is experiencing what it feels like to be able to die. Today, we are without hope, feeling lost, and deeply disappointed to be in this situation.

In an interview with the German news program "Tagesschau" you said that there will be resistance from the young, "new" generation. Are you afraid of a new and long civil war?

I did not say there will be resistance. Rather, it depends on how the Taliban will rule. Currently, it is not clear whether we will experience resistance or not. One thing that is clear: if the Taliban oppose the values and achievements of the people - especially the young generation growing up with the emerging democracy in Afghanistan - there will be resistance. The young generation will not want to simply give up what they have gained in the past twenty years. They will join those who fight against the Taliban - such as Amrullah Saleh, the Vice President of Ashraf Ghani.

But if the Taliban form a government that recognizes the rights and freedoms of the people here, I also believe that people may tolerate this government under Taliban rule. Because: after half a century of war, people in Afghanistan are tired of war. No one wants a new and avoidable conflict - especially not with the Taliban!

The Taliban want to establish their "version" of Sharia law in Afghanistan. What are women's rights and equality under Sharia, and who is openly advocating for the rights of women and girls now?

According to the rules of Islam, women and men have the same rights. Islamic regulations and rules are enshrined in our law. Our constitution is also based on Islam - on its rules and regulations. The question is rather: how will the Taliban interpret the rules of Islam this time? What the Taliban tried to enforce as the rules of Islam twenty years ago was definitely their own version of Islamic Sharia.

For people outside of Afghanistan, it is not always easy to emotionally grasp the desperate situation of people on the ground. What have you seen and experienced in the past few days? What is haunting you?

The worst thing for me was when the Taliban invaded Kabul. I felt powerless and unprotected, torn between fear and helplessness. People were running back and forth. The streets were in total chaos. Having to experience this unbearable situation, witnessing the worries and suffering of the people up close – all of this broke my heart.

The news that our president had fled, simply abandoned us, struck another blow to my heart. The people in Afghanistan in these days have so many unanswered questions: Where is our army – where are our forces. Where are they all? The answer is as sad as it is discouraging. We have no one currently in charge. We have no one speaking on our behalf, negotiating on our behalf, or fighting for us. We are on our own and we have to do it ourselves – for us and all those who look up to us. This is not only deeply disappointing, but also an immense emotional burden, in addition to the physical one!

Ms. Kochai, our seventh question is always a personal one. How do you see your professional and personal future in Afghanistan, and most importantly, do you still have hope for peace in your country?

Currently, I cannot say what my future in this country will look like. The more I think about it, the more painful it becomes. And of course, I am not the only one feeling this way. Millions of people in Afghanistan do not know what their future holds – what will happen to them. People have professions, they know what they are capable of. That makes them confident. But they also see that their government, in which they had trust, has given up. And the worst part is: the government has abandoned not only themselves, but also the people in our country.

Nevertheless, I still hope that all sides will come together. Unfortunately, many people – even those in responsible positions – have already left the country and taken refuge. What is left behind is us and the Taliban, who do as they please.

We pray to God every day, we pray to Allah, because we have no one to help us – neither in Kabul nor anywhere else in the world. We pray for our future, the future of our children, and the future of our country. The spark of hope for a peace agreement and a government committed to the well-being of its people keeps me strong. This spark of hope keeps me alive!

Thank you for the interview, Ms. Kochai!