Atif Ahmadzai, his wife and five kids were back in Afghanistan when the ground suddenly shifted.
He had been expecting to be here for two months as a former U.S. Army translator, but was shocked by the rapidity of the Talibans invasion of Afghanistan. He had been a U.S. citizen since 2019. He wanted to visit his family, but realized that time was running out. He needed to leave quickly. Ahmadzai, who was a key player in the American aid effort, was at risk.
He became one of thousands of Afghanis fleeing the country overnight.
Ahmadzai was able to get help in New Haven.
Former U.S. Army captain Michael Kuszpa was serving in the trenches alongside Ahmadzai, as they dodged explosives, ambushes, and other dangers. Kuszpa was trying to rescue Ahmadzai and his family. They compared their war experiences to being brothers.
Kuszpa stated that Ahmadzai was able to communicate with both military personnel and civilians in Afghanistan despite being unable to speak the language.
He remembered that one time, American special forces were cleaning out a prison cell when they accidentally found a copy the Quran. It is the most important book in Islam. Ahmadzai was able explain to Afghans that it was an error because the soldiers hadn't realized the book was written in Arabic and had mistakenly been included in the trash.
Kuszpa stated that it could have resulted in a bloodbath, if someone had fired a single shot at the other. It would have been terrible. It was actually Atif who diffused the cultural, potentially disastrous events.
He saved my life and that of many other Americans and Afghans. He was able to communicate pertinent information quickly and help resolve cultural misunderstandings between the Afghan military and our military.
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Kuszpa helped Ahmadzai escape Afghanistan when he needed assistance. Kuszpa worked with a friend who knew a State Department colleague to expedite the paperwork that allowed him to escape. Similar to Ahmadzai, Kuszpa helped him obtain a special visa for 2019 so he could visit New Haven.
I had planned to spend two months in Kabul to visit my family and friends. Ahmadzai, 43 said that I tried four times to get [to the airport]. Mike gave me a number, and told me to go to the back gate of the airport. I did. To disperse the crowd, guards opened fire. My family was afraid.
They came across a Taliban checkpoint on the way.
Ahmadzai stated that they had set up a checkpoint and asked me to unlock the phone.
This could have ended his trip. Although his phone had important information about his escape plan, the phone also displayed photos of his children, aged between 2 and 12. The family was allowed the to continue.
The ordeal wasn't over when we finally got inside the airport.
Ahmadzai stated that we stayed at Kabul's airport for three days and two nights. My son became sick from the warm water.
Finally, they were allowed to board a military aircraft and left Afghanistan.
He said that we spent three days and two nights in Qatar. We then spent two more days in Germany. We then traveled to Dulles in Virginia and spent another night there.
Next, you will need to leave the American military base at Virginia, and eventually return to New Haven.
Ahmadzai will be making a significant new move for the family and will also be taking a new job in New Haven. Ahmadzai, who has previously worked at a bakery and a manufacturer of medical instruments, now plans to be a translator for the New Haven-based Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (also known as IRIS).
Kuszpa is a middle-school science teacher in New Haven. He has been trying to assist his friend with the cost of moving his entire family. Kuszpa has already raised over $2,700 towards a $10,000 goal on a GoFundMe page he created to help Ahmadzai. Ahmadzai requires a two-bedroom or three bedroom apartment for his family of seven.
Kuszpa and Ahmadzai have been friends since their time together in Afghanistan in 2004/2005. They reconnected via Facebook and discussed Ahmadzai's possible move to the United States. He reunited with his former colleague after he received his special visa in 2019.
Kuszpa stated that I took him from LaGuardia and started to get him settled in New Haven.
Ahmadzai, who is currently in the United States says that he does not fear the Taliban and is happy to have his name published. He is deeply sorry for the loss of his country.
Ahmadzai stated that he feels safe here. My family is safe here. We tried to bring peace but it never happened.
Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com.
