vlog

NOWCAST vlog News at 6am Weekday Mornings
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

'I couldn't believe it': Grad student flees Kabul two days before Taliban takeover

During her second night in Nebraska, Nasrin Nawa said she woke up from a nightmare to a text saying "Kabul has fallen."
Emily Tencer
Reporter
'I couldn't believe it': Grad student flees Kabul two days before Taliban takeover

During her second night in Nebraska, Nasrin Nawa said she woke up from a nightmare to a text saying "Kabul has fallen."

TENSOR SPOKE WITH HER TONIGHT, EMILY WHEN THE TALIBANAS W BACK IN AFGHANISTAN IN 1996 NASRI NAVAS FAMILY LEFT THEIR HEOM CO UNTRY AND RACED HER IN IRAN FOR HER PROTECTION. NOW THIS TIME SHE’S SAFE IN LINCOLN, BUT HER FAMILY IS STUCK IN COBBLE UNABLE TO GET OUT. NASREEN NAVAS CONSTANTLY CHECKING FOR UPDATESRO FM HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY. STILL TRYING TO ESCAPE AFGHANISTAN. YOU HAVE NERVE TAUGHT WE HAVE NEVER IMAGINED THE TALIBAN. COME TO COWBOY VERY QUICKLY AND VERY VERY EASILY THE PEACEFUL PARK IN LINCOLN A STARK CONTRAST FROM WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND IN KABUL JUST FOUR DAYS AGO THE FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR NOW AT UNL MADE IT OUT LESS THAN 48 HOURS BEFORE THE TALIBAN TOOK OVER. IT WAS JUST A CHANCE, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER FULBRIGHTERS. LI IKE KNOW THREE OF THEM THAT THEY ARE STUCK IN AFRICA. YOUR TICKE OTSN HAND DURING HER SECOND NIGHT IN LINCOLN. SHE WOKE UP TO THE TEXT COBBLE HAS FALLEN. I JUST READ THAT AND I W IAS BECAUSE CRYING SCREAMING THAT I IT’S I CAN’T BELIEVE IT. SHE SAYS HER PARENTS AND YOUNGER SISTER ARE STILL APPLYING FOR VISAS, BUT SO FAR NO LUCK. SHE TOLD ME THAT MAYBE SHE FIND A WAY BUT SHE CANNOT TAKE MY PARENTS WITH HERSELF AND IT’S REALLY HURTS THE TALIBAN CLAIMS TO HAVE CHANGED ITSAYS WUT B NOVA AND MANY OTHERS DON’T BELIEVE IT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO STJU THIS FIRE WITH THEM IF THEY ARE CHANGED, BUT THEY ARE NOT CHANGED THEY ENTERED. YOU CALL IT COUPLE AND THEY TOOK PROVINCES WITH THE MILITARY POWER. SHE SAYS MANY OF HER FEMALE FRIENDS ESCAPED KABUL AND DELETED THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE THEY’RE AFRAID OF THE TALIBAN WHO ARE AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS. WOMEN RHTSIG AND WHO DON’T RESPECT PERSONAL CHOICE VERY SIMPLE THING. IT’S THE PRELIMINARY RIGHTS OF A PERSON. YOU WON’T HAVE IT THE THIRD ONE. ESH SAYS SHE HASN’T BEEN SLEEPING THESE LAST FEW DAYS. SHE’S BEEN STAYING AWAKE AT NIGHT TO KEEP IN CONTACT WITH HER FAMILY. NOT THE STARTS HER JOURNALISM CLASSES AT UNL ON MOND,AY B
Advertisement
'I couldn't believe it': Grad student flees Kabul two days before Taliban takeover

During her second night in Nebraska, Nasrin Nawa said she woke up from a nightmare to a text saying "Kabul has fallen."
Emily Tencer
Reporter
When the Taliban entered Afghanistan back in 1996, Nasrin Nawa's family left their home and raised her in Iran for her protection. Eventually, she moved back to her country, where she went to college and worked as a journalist in Kabul.This time, Nawa is safe in Lincoln, Nebraska, but her family is stuck in Kabul unable to get out. "We have never thought, never imagined the Taliban will come to Kabul very quickly and very easily," she said. The Fulbright scholar and University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate student made it out less than forty-eight hours before the Taliban took over."It was just a chance. There are so many other Fulbrighters, like I know three of them, that are stuck in Afghanistan with their tickets in hand," she said.During her second night in Lincoln, she said she woke up to the text "Kabul has fallen.""I just read that and I was just crying, screaming," Nawa said. "I couldn't believe it." She said her parents and sister are still in Kabul, applying for emergency visas to try and get out. So far they've had no luck."She told me maybe she'd find a way," she said. "She cannot take my parents with her and it really hurts."The Taliban claims to have changed its ways, but Nawa and many others don't believe it."We would be able to just ceasefire with them if they are changed but they are not changed," she said. "They entered Kabul and they took provinces with military power."She said many of her female friends escaped the city and deleted their social media accounts in fear of the Taliban."We really want to be there. We invested there. We plan to make a life, but we have problem living there with Taliban who are against human rights, women rights and who don't respect personal choice. Very simple thing. It's the preliminary right of a person. You won't have it with the Taliban," she said.Nawa said she hasn't been sleeping these last four nights. She's been staying awake at night to keep in contact with her family.Nawa begins journalism classes on Monday but says right now, school is the last thing on her mind.

When the Taliban entered Afghanistan back in 1996, Nasrin Nawa's family left their home and raised her in Iran for her protection. Eventually, she moved back to her country, where she went to college and worked as a journalist in Kabul.

Advertisement

This time, Nawa is safe in Lincoln, Nebraska, but her family is stuck in Kabul unable to get out.

"We have never thought, never imagined the Taliban will come to Kabul very quickly and very easily," she said.

The Fulbright scholar and University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate student made it out less than forty-eight hours before the Taliban took over.

"It was just a chance. There are so many other Fulbrighters, like I know three of them, that are stuck in Afghanistan with their tickets in hand," she said.

During her second night in Lincoln, she said she woke up to the text "Kabul has fallen."

"I just read that and I was just crying, screaming," Nawa said. "I couldn't believe it."

She said her parents and sister are still in Kabul, applying for emergency visas to try and get out. So far they've had no luck.

"She [my sister] told me maybe she'd find a way," she said. "She cannot take my parents with her and it really hurts."

The Taliban claims to have changed its ways, but Nawa and many others don't believe it.

"We would be able to just ceasefire with them if they are changed but they are not changed," she said. "They entered Kabul and they took provinces with military power."

She said many of her female friends escaped the city and deleted their social media accounts in fear of the Taliban.

"We really want to be there. We invested there. We plan to make a life, but we have problem living there with Taliban who are against human rights, women rights and who don't respect personal choice. Very simple thing. It's the preliminary right of a person. You won't have it with the Taliban," she said.

Nawa said she hasn't been sleeping these last four nights. She's been staying awake at night to keep in contact with her family.

Nawa begins journalism classes on Monday but says right now, school is the last thing on her mind.