T's Story · Refugee Week 2024

WRITTEN BY TOMMY SHARPE

In the late 1990s, Afghanistan was controlled by the Taliban, who imposed a hardline version of Islam on the nation. Following the September 11 attacks, the US military deposed the Taliban, implementing a power-sharing government. A decade later, the US and other nations began withdrawing troops from the region, and the full UK and US withdrawal was completed between 2020 and 2021. Over the course of this withdrawal, a growing Taliban insurgency brought violence to much of the region.

T had left Afghanistan during this period, travelling to the UK because he spoke the language excellently. I also imagine the visibility of UK troops contributed to his decision-making, but I can’t put these words in his mouth.

The first time I met T, he was shocked we were the same age, born just 1 month apart. “How are you so tall” he said, jokingly jumping up to mirror my height. He went about trying to explain our height difference, “Maybe it’s because in England you don’t work so hard”. T is from a small village, and had been working on his dads farm since he was 13 years old. “Everyone in Afghanistan does this, lifting heavy things. Maybe that is why I am short”. He laughed.

He loves football, and dreams of one day going to a stadium. “We all play football in Afghanistan. One village will play another village. I always score” he said cheekily, mimicking his striking action.

T has excellent English, and has found many of the classes he is invited to too easy for him. He still often goes to help his friends. This is one of T’s most obvious characteristics – he is a fantastic friend. He often carries out the legwork in conversations where other people from Afghanistan are struggling and is always the first to introduce himself to new people.