Preeta Chag

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton. An Hatchette UK Company (2023)

“Sooner or later, all wars come to an end. Even the Forever War.”

Afghanistan seemed to be a forever war. From 1979, when Russia invaded the country to 2021 when international allies and US withdrew from the country.

Russia. Mujahedeen. Taliban. US and allies (NATO). The country was in a ‘forever’ war.

And one fine day, it quickly came to end. The date of withdrawal from the country was announced- August 31, 2021. It was the time, when the world decided to give up on Afghanistan.

“Escape from Kabul” is a document narrating the events of the exit after the country fell shockingly and swiftly to the incoming Taliban, once the allied forces begin to withdraw.

The book narrates the heroism of the international troops, who despite being overwhelmed with the most difficult circumstances, did their very best to answer all cries of help of those who were their support during their times in the country and who were petrified of being left at the mercy of the invading Taliban.

Astounding statistics are given in the book (page 12).  During the two-decade war which US and allies fought, 69,096 Afghan security forces lives were lost. Civilian deaths were close to 46,319 and total death toll for NATO figured around 1,76,000.

It seemed unreal, when the dates to leave were announced, and more shocking was the Doha Agreement, which was criticized to be harbinger of the upsurge of Taliban. As soon as USA, announced withdrawal, Taliban moved in and, oh so, very quickly.

The Doha Agreement was what the withdrawal was based on. But the Agreement was a complete no-go from the start. The Agreement was not made with the ruling Afghan Government, but was made with the Taliban, the very forces which they were fighting against for decades. It involved an astounding release of 5000 Taliban prisoners and a no-guarantee from Taliban to not seize the country.

The withdrawal was doomed from the moment it was announced.

Levison Wood and Geraint Jones have recorded the efforts of British and American troops on a daring mission to evacuate their supporters and Afghan families from the clutches of insurgent Taliban troops who were hell-bent on punishing the Afghan traitors (as perceived by the Taliban for supporting NATO forces). The book is a vivid portrayal of fears and astounding bravery in managing the chaotic scenes at the airport and giving all their best to help the maximum.

The task was enormous. And the stakes could not have been higher. The authors have painstakingly researched and interviewed so many marines and officers who found themselves horrifyingly amidst a disaster of huge proportions. Cries for help. Pleas for mercy. There was no respite, leaving so many of the soliders traumatised, a trauma some of them live with even today.

It was crazy that just, by the virtue of being there, 18-year-old soldiers were deciding the fate of those crying for freedom.

Huria’s story (page 212) was just one of the harrowing stories of escape to freedom. But enough to give goose pumps and a scare forever.

“Escape from Kabul’ is a document which will be relevant years from now. A document of bravery and heroism. A document of political decisions and their fall-outs. For it writes the story of a country whose history will be written only in blood chronicling broken dreams, shattered futures, and wailing echoes.