Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Aug 21: John Jathanna from Malpe near here was working as supervisor for an Afghanistan-based company for the last 12 years. Just 30 minutes before Taliban forces attacked the administration and wrested power in that country, Jathanna left that country by a flight.
John narrated that for the last ten days, Talibanis had been taking over offices everywhere. The office at the airport and other branches of his company were taken over and Kabul was the only place that remained safe. No one expected the Talibanis to attack Kabul as the city has a predominant presence of American security personnel and the headquarters of the police force is located there. Jathanna left Afghanistan on August 15.
He recalls that at the last minute, his boss advised the employees to return home. Immediately they booked tickets for India. He recalls that within half an hour from the time his flight left Kabul, Talibanis unleashed terror and violence. He reached his hometown and realized that his life was saved at the nick of the moment and the time he left that country was ideal. "l presume that the Lord guided me at the right time. Because of his grace, I am alive today. I returned to Afghanistan just two weeks ago. There were no staff to man the offices. Still, the boss sent me home perhaps having been inspired by the Lord. Another Indian who was with me was already in India on leave and an Australian citizen came back with me," he explained.
John Jathanna said that his colleagues behave well with him, and that the people working in that country think only about that day and not about the next day or the future. "No one can predict what happens when we are outside. Every week we heard the sound of bombing twice or thrice at Kabul. The company looked after us well, and Indians are respected there," he added.
He said that the Afghan army was trained by the American forces for two decades and the agreement between the two countries had ended and the USA withdrew its security forces. "I do not know why the forces were taken back all of a sudden. Now, American arms and ammunition have been taken over by the Taliban forces," he said.
People of Afghanistan keep recollecting the help extended by India and visit Delhi for treatment as they have faith in the treatment in India. Lajpat Nagar in Delhi is inhabited by Afghan citizens. John said he feels that the situation might return to normalcy in about a month and that he has received a call advising to come back to work after some time. "I will think about going back after the situation comes under control," he explained.