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This article is part of a Fox News Digital series examining the impact of the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan a year ago this week.
In August 2021, the world was dismayed at the disorderly withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan after nearly two decades of occupation, allowing the Taliban to quickly regain control of the war-torn country. I was watching.
A year later, though possible, many Afghans who fled their homeland have learned to adjust to their new lives in the United States.
One of those refugees is Hamid Wahedy, 36, who spent six years in the US military as an IT specialist providing internet services.
With his wife and two children (another is due), he now lives and works in a small community of 100 to 120 Afghan peers in New Hampshire.
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“I am happy to be here. My family can walk everywhere peacefully without any problems. My children can go to school and they will study well.” Let’s go,” Wahedy said.
While wanting to return, Wahedi knows he is not safe and worries about the future of his country.
“Afghanistan’s future is not good. Dark times are coming. I have no hope. (Taliban) are not running Afghanistan peacefully,” Wahedi said.
Another Afghan, Kheral Massomi, fled to the United States after Kabul fell to the Taliban. It’s a memory she described as her “worst experience” in her life. Because of her activity and profile in Afghanistan, she knew it put her at risk.
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Massomie eventually settled in Washington, DC after obtaining a humanitarian parole visa. She applied for her asylum and her work permit. The process took her nearly nine months to sort out.
“No one offered me a job, no one trusted me,” said Massomie.
If it weren’t for the host family she’s staying with, she wouldn’t have gotten any government support. Because she has studied abroad and she has a good grasp of English.
“About 83,000 people have arrived in the United States, most of whom don’t know English and have never worked or lived in another country.” From the day they came here, they are new to the culture, the language, the way things are done here.”
Earlier this month, a bipartisan coalition of members of the House and Senate introduced the Afghan Adjustment Act, a bill that would give tens of thousands of Afghan refugees a path to citizenship.
The law allows Afghans with temporary humanitarian status to apply for legal permanent residency in the United States rather than through the asylum system or the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) process. The bill also expands eligibility for SIV visas designated to allies that have supported US military operations in the country.
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Another Afghan who spoke to Fox News, Anahita Walizada, 22, had a distinguished career as a journalist. Zawia Media when they were forced out of their country.
“It’s been really hard for me to leave home. I’m thousands of miles away from home,” she said. “For my generation, boys and girls, going back[to Afghanistan]because of the Taliban is unbelievable.”
For now, she is concentrating on her studies to adjust to life in America, contributing to the Afghan media and even appearing in an independent film as a lead actress.
“I want to be free. I want to be the woman who decides her rights and decides what she wants to do and how she wants to work,” Walizada said. “Women have a lot of opportunities. So I came here, started studying, started learning a new language. It was not easy for me. , started a new journey here – being free and being a good human being.”
Walizada’s sister, Taban Ibraz, told Fox News that the past year has been tough for the community, but they are determined to persevere.
“We tried to adapt. For me, the first thing was to heal, because we lost everything we had worked for. We fought for it. And all the while. , we are trying to change something in Afghanistan, peace, human rights and especially women’s rights,” said Ibraz.
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However, Afghans who spoke to Fox News each expressed disappointment and dissatisfaction with how the United States handled their withdrawals and evacuations.
“It was the same when US troops came to Afghanistan[in 2001]. Then they left and a terrorist group took over,” Massomi said. “And the international community has disappointed the Afghan people in many ways.”
Wahedy said the withdrawal of US troops and the evacuation of Afghans could have been handled better.
“I want (the United States) to act sooner and evacuate everyone peacefully without problems,” he said.
Ibraz, Massomi, Wahedy and Walizada each said they did not want to burden the US.
“Being here in America and trying to start a new life here was not what we talked about or wanted. , go out to the media and try to change something in our history, because all we know about Afghanistan is war. .
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Massomi said if it had been up to her, she too would have stayed in Afghanistan, but is making the most of her new life here and working tirelessly to help other Afghans in the United States. .
“We came here and we are here now. We want our future to be clear,” she said. “I don’t want to be a burden on the government or the American people. I want to be independent. I want to contribute to this community.”
Fox News’ Adam Shaw contributed to this report.