An Afghan woman has revealed how she was forced to leave her one-year-old son in Kabul after she fled the Taliban and sought asylum in the US. 

Benafsha Qasemi, 27, who is now based in Austin, Texas, took the brave decision to tell her heartbreaking story as part of a YouTube series on the Real Women Real Stories channel.

Fighting back tears, she explains how she was separated from her son at the airport gates as he was with his grandmother when Taliban fighters entered Kabul on August 15, 2021. 

While she desperately pleaded with the Afghan and US security forces for her to be reunited with the young child, her request was denied amid the chaos. 

Benafsha Qasemi, 27, who is now based in Austin, Texas, took the brave decision to tell her heartbreaking story as part of a YouTube series on the Real Women Real Stories channel

Benafsha Qasemi, 27, who is now based in Austin, Texas, took the brave decision to tell her heartbreaking story as part of a YouTube series on the Real Women Real Stories channel

Benafsha Qasemi, 27, who is now based in Austin, Texas, took the brave decision to tell her heartbreaking story as part of a YouTube series on the Real Women Real Stories channel

The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, 20 years after being ousted by US troops

The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, 20 years after being ousted by US troops

The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, 20 years after being ousted by US troops

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Speaking four months after her arrival in the US, Benafsha said the traumatizing event had affected her both ‘psychologically and physically’ so badly that she didn’t want to leave home or socialize. 

‘I prefer to stay home alone and always see his photos and videos,’ she said, adding that she often spent time in a dark room crying. 

Fortunately Benafsha managed to make it to the US with some of her family members. 

At the time the video was made, she said she was living with her husband and two sister-in-laws in Austin, while her nephews and nieces had been rehomed in Virginia. 

The heartbroken mother said it was impossible for her to return to Afghanistan as she was left with no documents when she fled and she was unsure if her son could get to America. 

Adding to her anguish, she said she had discovered her son had ‘become sick and always cries,’ but there was nothing she could do.

Despite her upset, Benafsha said she was trying to remain strong as she had another child who needed her support. 

She explained: ‘I sometimes think that I won’t be able to take good care of my new child because of the anxiety I have. 

‘But I will do my best, because as a mother I don’t have the right to deprive my child of anything just because my other child is away from me.’

Since they have taken control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have cracked down on women's rights and neglected basic services

Since they have taken control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have cracked down on women's rights and neglected basic services

Since they have taken control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have cracked down on women’s rights and neglected basic services

Before the Taliban came on the scene, Benafsha said Afghanistan was a completely different place and she felt free to pursue her career ambitions

Before the Taliban came on the scene, Benafsha said Afghanistan was a completely different place and she felt free to pursue her career ambitions

Before the Taliban came on the scene, Benafsha said Afghanistan was a completely different place and she felt free to pursue her career ambitions

At the time of the coup, thousands of Afghans rushed into Kabul’s main airport, some so desperate to escape that they held onto a military jet as it took off and plunged to their death.

Because of the pain the Taliban had inflicted on citizens across her country, Benafsha said she would never forgive the Islamic fundamentalist group and ‘I ask God not to forgive them ever.’

The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, 20 years after they were ousted by US troops. 

Since they have taken control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have cracked down on women’s rights and neglected basic services.

Before the Taliban came on the scene, Benafsha said Afghanistan was a completely different place and she felt free to pursue her career ambitions.  

She recalled: ‘Before the Taliban came, I really felt proud as a woman, as an Afghan, in Kabul.

‘When I was young, I used to go to school. After school, I went to university and studied sociology and philosophy.’ 

On finishing her studies, Benafsha worked as a monitoring and evaluation officer in an organization supported by the US government before doing an MBA in a bid to become a college lecturer. 

I sometimes think that I won’t be able to take good care of my new child because of the anxiety I have. But I will do my best, because as a mother I don’t have the right to deprive my child of anything just because my other child is away from me.

With the former government in place, Benafsha said she never had any problems as a woman working and studying. 

But when the Taliban arrived, everything changed overnight. 

Recounting the chain of events when the takeover occurred, she said: ‘Exactly the day the Taliban came I was in my cousin’s wedding party.

‘My sister called me and said the Taliban had come. She said they were almost in Kabul and I should go back home. 

‘I remember very clearly how Afghans were worried.

‘All women and children who had left their work and school were running everywhere. 

‘They were very worried and they were even crying. [Luckily], I managed to get home.’

Benafsha said she felt even more vulnerable as she had worked for a company that was affiliated to the US government, and the Taliban could penalize her for that. 

For that reason, she decided it was best to try and escape the country. 

After the Taliban took control of Kabul in August 2021, the US evacuated more than 77,000 Afghans.

Benafsha said when she realized she was separated from her son, she tried to stay behind and run the risk of getting killed, but the security officers wouldn’t let her out of the airport compound once she was there. 

In the interview video, she concludes: ‘I had to leave my one-year-old child because of the Taliban regime. 

‘Just because I was a woman and I used to work. I had studied, I had no other sins.

‘Only because of these, I had to leave my one-year-old child.’

To date, Benafsha’s story has been watched more than 2,000 times with many viewers expressing their sympathies and applauding her strength. 

One commenter wrote: ‘No mother should have to do what you were forced to do. I am so sorry that no one listened to your pleas. I pray you and your family will be reunited quickly.’

Another viewer added: ‘You have a lot of courage and love to come on YouTube with your story. I’ll pray that someday you and your son will be united.’ 

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