What, Christians in Afghanistan?!
In 2020, an estimated 15,000-20,000 people in Afghanistan were followers of Jesus. In fact, although Christans were then still persecuted severly—even killed, the Afghan church was the second fastest growing one in the world, second only to Iran. No doubt the ongoing presence of US and NATO military forces mitigated some pressure on the tiny community of faith. But even with foreign soldiers watching—and the deterrence provided by nearly $1 billion in US aid that year, only one place on the planet was more dangerous for Christians to live: North Korea.
It was that bad. And then, the Taliban returned.
In the 2020 negotiations in Qatar, the US chose to ignore the existing and widely-believed corrupt Afghan government, and deal directly with the Taliban. When the militants failed keep the terms of the treaty they’d signed, US presidents of both parties still had had enough of America’s longest war, and prepared to pull out forces regardless. Seizing this window of opportunity, the Taliban swept over province after province. Knowing their American backers were leaving, Afghan police and soldiers ditched their uniforms and tried to blend in with the populace. In ten short days the Taliban were at the gates of the capital city of Kabul. Everyone in the government, everyone who had helped coalition forces, and all Christians, knew their names were already on a death list. Time was short. The US military airlifted nearly 124,000 Afghans out of the country while countless others fled overland to countries they hoped would take them in. But within a year, neighboring countries sent back a million of them to unknown fates.
The story you’re about to hear from RADICAL tells of an Afghan Christian who escaped in the aftermath of the Taliban’s victory, who knows of believers still in the country—no matter what the Taliban claim, and who ponders whether his faith is richer now that he’s living in safety and security, or perhaps was more so living in Afghanistan with the constant prospect of death. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKVTLOV_kWI