Multumesc pentru urarile de ziua mea. Intr-adevar s-a dovedit sa fie una memorabila. Sunt in Kabul, in siguranta, si, in ciuda scenelor de groaza filmate la aeroport pe care le vedeti pe ecranele voastre acum, orasul e in mare parte calm, si nu am nici un motiv sa plec. Am trecut prin puncte de control Talibane fara probleme, chiar ca femeie si ca international. Am cumparat legume in bazar, and vorbit cu negustori. Magazinele sunt deschise, electricitatea si telecomunicatiile functioneaza. Nu am fost amenintata direct. Ceea ce nu am nevoie de la voi e presiune cum ca ar trebui sa plec – nu am cum la momentul acesta, din cauza situatiei de la aeroport, chiar daca as vrea, si nu vreau sa plec in primul rand. Sunt in siguranta. Intr-adevar, situatia este fluida, socanta pentru multi, si multi afgani au ingrijorari legitime in privinta propriei persoane. In mod tragic, comunitatea internationala, inclusiv unele ambasade vestice care erau privite de multi prieteni afgani ca bastioane ale drepturilor omului si ale securitatii, au fugit. Cateva tari au impus un regim neanuntat de sanctiuni care va afecta civilii afgani cel mai mult, si nu noua administratie. Bancile, rezervele de bani pentru populatie, si situatia economica in general sunt cea mai mare ingrijorare acum. Ce am nevoie de la voi e incredere in valoarea asistentei umanitare si de dezvoltare in Afganistan, si sustinere si rabdare pentru mine personal.

Pentru cei care lucreaza in mass media, trebuie sa realizati ca titluri ca “Infernul Afgan” si “Criza in Afganistan” sunt periculoase. Haosul de la Aeroportul International Hmid Karzai in acest moment se datoreaza reportajelor iresponsabile, care sunt imediat preluate de presa afgana. Intr-o masura cel putin, Emiratul Islamic al Afganistanului (Talibanii) nu au castigat militar, ci au invins intr-o batalie a narativelor. Asta a fost posibil datorita mass media alarmiste, alimentata de o strategie vestica nefericita de a accelera “negocierile de pace” prin subminarea legitimitatii fostului guvern. Zvonurile se transforma in fapte prin jurnalism infometat, si asta a inclus publicatii vestice reputabile. Uneori ma intreb, sincer, cum anumite articole au trecut printr-un process editiorial. In mod significativ, aceste reportaje creeaza ingrijorari si presiune pe internationalii ramasi aici din partea familiilor si prietenilor de acasa. Personal, am fost contactata de sute de persoane care mi-au spus sa plec si cum sa plec – m-am chinuit sa-mi amintesc cine sunt aceste persoane, in multe cazuri. Parintii mei sunt terifiati de aceasta narativa unilaterala, si au incetat sa aiba incredere in abilitatea mea de a-mi aprecia mediul de operare chiar daca sunt de peste sapte ani in aceasta tara si acest oras, majoritatea timpului in afara unei baze militarizate si responsabila pentru propria siguranta si cea a angajatilor mei. Sunt disponibila, in masura in care timpul imi permite si off the record, sa vorbesc cu oricine din media

My dears,

Thank you all for the birthday wishes. This surely turned out to be a memorable one. I am in Kabul, safe, and despite the scenes at the airport that you all see on TV nowadays, most of the city is calm, and there is no reason for me to leave. I have passed through Taliban checkpoints without an issue, as a woman and a foreigner. I have bought vegetables in the bazaar and spoke to shopkeepers. Shops are open, electricity and telecommunications work. I have not been directly threatened. What I need from you is not pressure to go out – I cannot leave right now even if I wanted to, given the situation at the airport, and I do not want to leave. I am safe. Yes, the environment is fluid, shocking for many, and many Afghans have legitimate concerns about their safety. Tragically, the international community, including some western embassies that many Afghan friends looked up to as bastions of human rights and security, are fleeing, and countries are imposing an unannounced sanctions regime that will affect Afghan civilians the most, and not the new government. Banks, cash availability, and the economic situation are the main concern right now. What I need is your trust in the value of humanitarian and development assistance in Afghanistan, and, personally, support and patience.

For those working in media, be aware that titles such as “The Afghan Inferno” and “Crisis in Afghanistan” are dangerous. The chaos at Hamid Karzai International Airport right now is due to such irresponsible media coverage, which is swiftly translated into Afghan media. To an extent, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan did not win militarily, but won a battle of narratives. This was because of alarmist media that sells, fuelled by an ill-fated western push to get “peace negotiations” going by undermining the legitimacy of the government. Rumours transform into facts through hungry journalism, and this has included reputable publications. Sometimes I wonder, sincerely, how some things pass through an editor. These reports also create concern and pressure on us internationals left here from families and friends back home; I have personally been contacted by hundreds of people urging me to get out, some of whom I have issues remembering; my parents are terrified because of this one-sided narrative, and they have stopped trusting my judgement even as I have lived for over seven years in this country outside the confines of a militarised compound. Our families’ and friends’ concerns are entirely on you. As such, I am happy to speak, off the record and as my time allows, to anyone in the media”.