his name is obaidullah baheer. he just wrote a piece for the australian family review titled "my family fought alongside the taliban -- but i'm afraid for my friends." he begins the piece by writing -- "when kabul fell on sunday my father went on live tv to congratulate the taliban on their glorious victory. as i watched him praise the jihadists, my phone buzzed with panicked messages from friends who were terrified that taliban fighters would kill them in their homes." obaidullah's grandfather is gulbuddin hekmatyar, one of afghanistan's most notorious once nicknamed the butcher of kabul. his father was jailed at a cia torture site as well as the bagram air base. obaidullah baheer is a lecturer at american university of afghanistan. he teaches a course on transitional justice. he is joining us now from kabul. we welcome you to democracy now! there is so much to talk about, but if you could start by saying why you have made the decision to stay in kabul as you help so many of your friends try to race to kabul airpo

host: obaidullah baheer is a lecturer in afghanistan, joining us today. what is your message to america? guest: there's a very interesting piece on "the new york times" today on the chief of the army in afghanistan, who has also fled the country. basically, the essence of it is he says we lost because the united states tied our hands behind us, and then biden calls us cowards for not having fought. he said that we laid down 68,000 lives, which was 1/5 of our army, for the cause of defending this country, so don't belittle what sacrifices we gave to the country. beyond that, i think the american populace has the power of its own voice, and it really needs to keep president biden in check because he acts like none of this was his response ability. he acts like he did not owe anything to afghanistan. i do understand the withdrawal. trust me, we did not want troops to stay here longer, but there were better ways to go about it. there were better ways to support the armed forces. there were better ways to keep the afghan government that was extremely corrupt i

obaidullah baheer, thank you for joining us on bbc news. have been out. i was out today, i was out yesterday, i drove through a lot of the city yesterday. security under the city yesterday. security under the taliban, you see them heavily armed, in armoured vehicles, they are driving around the city, very passive, not interacting with a lot of people. they are maintaining security for international compounds, for government buildings. the conflicting reports, lyse doucet already talked about how they told some people that it was ok giving them amnesty even if they worked for them amnesty even if they worked for the government but the condition was an apology and that's something that people i know personally have received as well with regards to a demand for an apology. that's one thing. the other idea is there is an intelligence chief that they have here who gives people guarantees saying that if anything happens they can reach out to them. yet we are hearing of instances of people being pulled out of their house, or houses being searched,

kabul university lecturer obaidullah baheer gave his reaction to us secretary of state anthony blinkenhe international presence in afghanistan is a success. you stare at that statement and smile. it is quite ironic. a lot of what happened in afghanistan appeared to be as part of a deal struck between the taliban and the united states, and the idea here is that they gave up on the afghans. they left them stranded, everything that we saw, we could have negotiated a transitional government, we could've done a transfer of power, but none of that happened because they did not allow us time, they did not let us plan for it in advance. so it was just done too hastily? yes, it was. you are kindly speaking to us for a second time here on bbc news. we spoke to you a little bit earlier, when you talked about your fears of what was going on, yourfear — you didn't want to leave the house. that was a few hours ago. tell us how the last few hours have been. have things changed ? actually, things have been changing quite rapidly. what happened in the morning was that panic struck. you could see cars s

kabul university lecturer obaidullah baheer gave his reaction to us secretary of state antony blinken'sand smile. it is quite ironic. a lot of what happened in afghanistan appeared to be as part of a deal struck between the taliban and the united states, and the idea here is that they gave up on the afghans will stubby left them stranded, everything that we saw, that we could have negotiated a transitional government, we could've done a transfer of power, but none of that happened because they did not allow us time, they did not let us plan for its in advance. 50 us time, they did not let us plan for its in advance.— for its in advance. so it was 'ust done to hastily? i for its in advance. so it was 'ust done to hastily? yes, i for its in advance. so it was 'ust done to hastily? yes, it i for its in advance. so it wasjust done to hastily? yes, it was. i for its in advance. so it was just. done to hastily? yes, it was. you are kindly — done to hastily? yes, it was. you are kindly speaking _ done to hastily? yes, it was. you are kindly speaking to _ done to hastily? yes, it was. you are k

host: obaidullah baheer is a lecturer in afghanistan, joining us today.message to america? guest: there's a very interesting piece on "the new york times" today on the chief of the army in afghanistan, who has also fled the country. basically, the essence of it is he says we lost because the united states tied our hands behind us, and then biden calls us cowards for not having fought. he said that we laid down 68,000 lives, which was 1/5 of our army, for the cause of defending this country, so don't belittle what sacrifices we gave to the country. beyond that, i think the american populace has the power of its own voice, and it really needs to keep president biden in check because he acts like none of this was his response ability. he acts like he did not owe anything to afghanistan. i do understand the withdrawal. trust me, we did not want troops to stay here longer, but there were better ways to go about it. there were better ways to support the armed forces. there were better ways to keep the afghan government that was extremely corrupt in check. so th

joining me now from kabul is obaidullah baheer — a lecturer at the american university of afghanistanthe situation on the ground in a moment, but can i ask you your reaction to whoo the us secretary of state anthony blinken has said to say, calling the mission in afghanistan a success? i has said to say, calling the mission in afghanistan a success?— in afghanistan a success? i would 'ust stare in afghanistan a success? i would just stare at _ in afghanistan a success? i would just stare at that _ in afghanistan a success? i would just stare at that statement - in afghanistan a success? i would just stare at that statement and l just stare at that statement and smile. it is quite ironic, a lot of what happened in afghanistan appeared to be as part of a deal struck between the taliban movement and the united states and the idea here is that they gave up on the afghans, they left them stranded, everything that we saw we could have negotiated a transitional government, we could have done a transfer of power, but none of that happened, because they didn't allow us time. they didn't let us

afghan resident obaidullah baheer is a lecturer at kabul�*s american university.sked the international community to help out but they can only help out when you have a plan on the ground. and it seems to be missing. some people are thinking about that, others are thinking about how to get out of here. when the initial taliban pushed started, within the same day we had 21 flights booked out which meant the elite, those who can afford it, are trying to get out and it's going to bleed afghanistan dry of its brains and any future that the country might have. but people don't have any other option. people do not have a leadership to stand by. they don't have a charismatic figure that is leading this fight with any hope. we just have squabbling politicians at a time where it is a national urgency to take a stance. have you thought about getting out? i don't want to make big claims that i cannot stand by in the future but i personally do not want to leave. i think even if they reach kabul there will be a need for voices like mine. and no matter how much they lack the tol

let's speak now to university lecturer obaidullah baheer and asuntha charles, who is the national directorme on your show, people are worried — for having me on your show, people are worried as to whether the compliance that the taliban have shown _ compliance that the taliban have shown with regards to their rhetoric is going _ shown with regards to their rhetoric is going to — shown with regards to their rhetoric is going to translate into actual actions — is going to translate into actual actions. there are multiple issues at hand _ actions. there are multiple issues at hand right now, one is establishing the government, the other— establishing the government, the other is— establishing the government, the other is the resistance in one region. — other is the resistance in one region. we _ other is the resistance in one region, we saw a tweet saying that the taliban— region, we saw a tweet saying that the taliban are not recognised and hinting _ the taliban are not recognised and hinting at — the taliban are not recognised and hinting at a — the taliban are not recognised and hinting at

we're also joined by university lecturer obaidullah baheer, who is in kabul. morning to you both.tion changed very rapidly— know that the situation changed very rapidly in _ know that the situation changed very rapidly in the past few days. the last city— rapidly in the past few days. the last city to — rapidly in the past few days. the last city to fall to the taliban was kabul _ last city to fall to the taliban was kabul. across afghanistan i have been _ kabul. across afghanistan i have been in — kabul. across afghanistan i have been in contact with people, not only women, but also men, who are in uncertainty _ only women, but also men, who are in uncertainty. they don't know what will happen to them. there is a complete — will happen to them. there is a complete vacuum of power. and a lawlessness in the society. and of course _ lawlessness in the society. and of course in — lawlessness in the society. and of course in such a military situation, women _ course in such a military situation, women are — course in such a military situation, women are the first victims, not only— wo

we'rejoined now by obaidullah baheer, a university lecturer in kabul. day would not so it was quite shocking. it was scary to see that despite all the compromise and sacrifice, there were still battles to be fought, they were still people to be lost so yeah, not the best place to be and physically, yes, iam yeah, not the best place to be and physically, yes, i am safe, yeah, not the best place to be and physically, yes, iam safe, i yeah, not the best place to be and physically, yes, i am safe, i am at my own place and the taliban really don't interact with people as such. if you are flying under the radar. outside, a lot of the incidents that we have heard have been individual cases of people taking matters into their own hand in the taliban being too coercive in their policing. in the last few minutes we have received the information that british troops are wrapping up their operations at kabul airport and are likely to be out of kabul in a matter of hours. what difference does that make?— matter of hours. what difference does that make? none. the brit