Ex-security personnel glad visiting hometowns

FARAH CITY (Pajhwok): Some former security personnel, who have returned to their native areas in wester Farah province after years of war, are glad and hope they will never see again hostilities in the country.

On August 15, the Ghani government collapsed and the Taliban took power, announcing the capture of all provinces. The new rulers declared a general amnesty for all employees of the previous government.

The end to war paved the way for those who had not been able to return to their native areas for years due to security concerns to go back to their villages.

Sharafuddin Ashrafi Farahi, a former police officer, is one of them. The 32-year-old is a native resident of the Khost village of Khak-i-Safid district. He worked as a police officer for 15 years but had been unable to visit his village during the period.

Farahi returned to his hometown after the change in the political system. It was a dream come true for people like him to return to their areas.

Breaking into tears on return to his hometown after 15 years, Farahi said he was really happy beyond description.

He explained the job of a police officer was to enforce the law and deal with criminal cases.

But during the previous governments, police were also involved in fighting and many of them had been killed and wounded, he deplored.

Happy with the end to war, he said: “My life is better now. My financial situation has grown better. Currently, I’m working on my farmland besides running a shop.”

The young man said he was enjoying being in his hometown and was working on his farmland.

His mother, who used to fear her son might be killed in fighting, also voiced her happiness over the cessation of conflict.

She said with the emergence of the political change in the country and the end to the bloody war, her concerns had been allayed and there was hope for the future of oneself and other people.

It was not only Farahi who brought peace of mind and happiness to the village after the end of the war. Many other military personnel and even civil servants also could not go to the village due to security concerns.

Massoud, 26, hails from Ghanhkan village, had a job in the National Directorate of Security. He could not visit his village for similar reasons.

He never felt like going to his village and being able to travel to different parts of the country. Like Farahi, he is enjoying peaceful life.

Both Farahi and Massoud hope there will never be another war in the country and that their countrymen will live in peace, happiness and unity.

sa/mud