Who is Haroon Zarify? Colorado man stuck in Kabul with family begs Joe Biden for help
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN: As the world watched in horror, Afghan security forces fell within hours of American soldiers leaving the country. A Colorado man was among the thousands of Americans who found themselves stuck in the dangerous land. Haroon Zarify watched everything unfold outside his father’s home in Kabul and is now making desperate pleas to escape the Taliban rule.
Narrating his story and what brought him to Kabul in the first place, Zarify knew leaving his home in Englewood, Colorado for Kabul, Afghanistan was a risk. But he had little choice. And now, he is requesting President Joe Biden to help him get back home.
READ MORE
What is the Badri 313? Feared Taliban 'special forces' spotted sporting American equipment
Is Taliban holding 20,000 US bound people hostage? Evacuation flights return empty from Kabul
Who is Haroon Zarify?
As per an interview he gave to Denver7, Haroon Zarify said that even though he was aware of the dangers that awaited, he had to visit Afghanistan.
"Some people think we went for vacation — that we deserve this. I’ve heard that," Zarify reportedly told the publication. "The reason I came here was to take my dad to India because he was sick." Zarify spoke with the publication via FaceTime from Kabul where he’s been with his family since June. "I was planning to get out of here with my wife and kids on the 28th," Zarify said. As the world watched Afghanistan fall into the hands of Taliban, Zarify reportedly saw it all unfold from outside of his father’s home in Kabul.
"Everyone knows when Americans leave Afghanistan what’s going to happen, and they’re scared," Zarify said. "People died from rushing to leave… but unfortunately this is what’s happening now."
Attacked by Taliban
Zarify also reportedly described being a part of the crowd at the airport in Kabul. In an attempt to get his family out of the city, he said he was trying to get help when a soldier attacked him. "He broke my phone because I was checking a video, he just crushed and hit it on the ground," Zarify reportedly said. "Then he kicked me and I was like ‘OK, I can’t do anything.' I cannot tell them I am an American and I’m a permanent resident of America. I cannot say that because there’s a lot of people around me, how do I know who they are? So, it’s about the trust. I cannot trust anyone."
Message to the President
Now, as he prays for help, Zarify has a message for Biden. "If Joe Biden can see my video, I’m telling him please help these people… give us an address where we can go," Zarify said. "They have to make a new decision to evacuate all these people. It’s been two days. I’ve been trying to go and talk to someone. It was impossible, it’s impossible. The embassy doesn’t exist anymore so who’s going to respond?"
Zarify is more than aware of the dangers he has invited upon himself and his family by speaking to the media. But thinks it is important that his voice is amplified across the world as he is telling the true story of what is happening in the country at the moment.
"The reason I came to speak to you guys, putting my life at risk, endangering my families lives more than they were - I want everyone to hear our voices,” Zarify said. He added that he doesn’t know if he’ll ever make it back to Englewood, but he will never stop trying. "I’m waiting to see if the crowd gets a little bit smaller, to see if I can talk with someone to get my family out. When I say family, I’m trying to get all my family out, parents as well. Hopefully it happens."
You can watch his full interview here.