EXCLUSIVE: Virginia father-of-four tells how his family vacation to Kabul turned into an escape 使節団 after Taliban 闘士,戦闘機s 掴むd the 資本/首都 and (警官の)巡回区域,受持ち区域 him with machine guns in 前線 of his kids at airport 検問所

  • Wais Aria, 39, from Alexandria, Virginia, has 解任するd his family's traumatic escape from Kabul last month, in an interview of DailyMail.com?
  • The father-of-four, who moved to the US in 2017, was vacationing in his home country with his wife Kubra and their kids when the Taliban took over the 資本/首都
  • They quickly packed up and 始める,決める out for Kabul Airport on August 22 but were 軍隊d to return four times before they were finally able to get on a 軍の 計画(する)
  • The family had to go through two Taliban 検問所s where 闘士,戦闘機s slammed Aria in the 支援する and shoulders with their guns, leaving him with dark bruises
  • 'I smiled to my children, but I had 苦痛 in my heart,' he said. 'I don't want to 除去する my 着せる/賦与するs in 前線 of my children. I try to keep it hidden'?
  • They were finally able to cram の上に a 軍の 計画(する) with 450 fellow 脱走者s and taking off just five hours before a 自殺 爆撃機 爆発させるd 近づく the gate
  • Aria says his children, ages four to 14, are now returning to school with the 外傷/ショック of last month 影響する/感情ing them in 変化させるing ways

A Virginia man's family vacation to his 母国 of Kabul took a terrifying turn last month when Taliban 闘士,戦闘機s swept into the 資本/首都 and started going door-to-door, 脅すing innocent 非軍事のs like him who had been working to 供給する mental health services to Afghans.

With the 政府 崩壊(する)d and 商業の flights 一時停止するd, Wais Aria, 39, his wife, and four children packed up and 始める,決める out for Kabul Airport on August 22.?

He was so desperate to catch a flight that he smiled through the 苦痛 when a Taliban 兵士 封鎖するing the 入り口 (警官の)巡回区域,受持ち区域 him with a machine gun.

'I did not want my children to be 脅すd or notice that I was 傷つける,' Aria, who moved to the US from Kabul in 2017, told DailyMail.com in an 排除的 interview.?

'We needed to 押し進める 今後.'

They returned to the airport for four straight days before finally making it through, cramming の上に a 軍の 計画(する) with 450 fellow 脱走者s and taking off just five hours before a 自殺 爆撃機 爆発させるd an 爆発性の 近づく the gates of the airport, 殺人,大当り more than 170 people who were standing in their footsteps.

Wais Aria is pictured with his wife Kubra, daughters Sara, 10, and Safa, six, and son Mustafa, 13, at their home in Alexandra, Virginia after escaping Kabul last month

Wais Aria is pictured with his wife Kubra, daughters Sara, 10, and Safa, six, and son Mustafa, 13, at their home in Alexandra, Virginia after escaping Kabul last month

Aria shared footage of the family's journey back to the US after they were finally able to cram onto a military plane with 450 fellow escapees on August 26 (pictured)

Aria 株d (映画の)フィート数 of the family's 旅行 支援する to the US after they were finally able to cram の上に a 軍の 計画(する) with 450 fellow 脱走者s on August 26 (pictured)?

Aria returned home with his family to Alexandria, Virginia late last month, still in shock and fearful for 親族s left behind.

'大統領 Biden says he just ended a 20-year war in Afghanistan and that our nation is 安全な,' said Aria. 'In my belief, the war is not ended in Afghanistan. The war has just started.'

During the interview, Aria was joined by his wife Kubra and children, ages four to 14, in their modest home on the southern 郊外s of the city.?

The children are returning to school with the 外傷/ショック of last mo nth 影響する/感情ing them in 変化させるing ways.?

The father said his four-year-old daughter 繰り返して walks in and out of the bathroom, and enters the kitchen in the middle of the night, aimlessly 開始 and shutting the refrigerator door.

'I try to ask her if you feel 苦痛, you feel bad, you need something, but she does not 答える/応じる,' he said. 'She doesn't want to talk.'

He said he took his children to a shopping 商店街 'just to keep them busy.'

'I've also had flashbacks at night,' he 公式文書,認めるd. 'All the memories come 支援する into my mind. I have nightmares. There's a 戦う/戦い.?

'I feel someone choke me and I could not breathe. I'm using pills to help sleep.'

In Afghanistan, Aria 設立するd TABISH in 2009, a nonprofit group working to help children 回復する from psychological 外傷/ショック from the war.

But the father of four now finds himself struggling to help his own family 対処する.

The family traveled to Afghanistan in June after schools let out for the summer.?

Aria and his wife, both of whom grew up in the war-torn country, were staying with 親族s in Kabul.?

The father-of-four, 39, and his son Mustafa recalled their traumatic escape from their home country after Taliban forces took control of the capital, in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com

The father-of-four, 39, and his son Mustafa 解任するd their traumatic escape from their home country after Taliban 軍隊s took 支配(する)/統制する of the 資本/首都, in an 排除的 interview with DailyMail.com?

The Aria family was vacationing in Kabul last month when the US withdrew troops from Afghanistan and Taliban forces swooped in days later, prompting them to pack up and set out for their airport (pictured)

The Aria family was vacationing in Kabul last month when the US withdrew 軍隊/機動隊s from Afghanistan and Taliban 軍隊s 急襲するd in days later, 誘発するing them to pack up and 始める,決める out for their airport (pictured)?

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The family managed to secure a spot on the plane after making four trips to the airport. The flight took off just five hours before a suicide bomber detonated and killed more than 170 people

The family managed to 安全な・保証する a 位置/汚点/見つけ出す on the 計画(する) after making four trips to the airport. The flight took off just five hours before a 自殺 爆撃機 爆発させるd and killed more than 170 people

Their 14-year-old son Mustafa would entertain his parents, cousins, uncles, aunts, and grandparents by 成し遂げるing songs on his harmonium.

When Taliban rolled into town, the music stopped. The family 避難所d in place, too 脅すd to go out. Their return flight to the US on August 29 was 取り消すd.

Aria tried searching for third-party tickets online only to find flights for $10,000 apiece.

When they learned the US was 避難させるing people from the airport, just 10 miles away, they packed their things and hopped into a taxi.?

Mustafa l eft his harmonium behind, fearful it would draw scrutiny. His mother hid the family's パスポートs, green cards and other personal papers in her 着せる/賦与するing.

They 出口d the taxi just a few hundred yards from the airport, where (人が)群がるs were 圧力(をかける)d up against a Taliban 検問所, the first of two before they'd reach American 兵士s 審査 people at the gate.

Taliban 兵士s were ordering (人が)群がるs to go away, 解雇する/砲火/射撃ing machine guns into the 空気/公表する, and striking stragglers with the butts and ひもで縛るs of their 武器s.

Mustafa said the 砲火 原因(となる)d people to 緊急発進する.

'The first day, it was (人が)群がるd, really (人が)群がるd when the Taliban did 警告 発射s,' the teen told DailyMail.com.?

'It was like a 支配 影響. People would 落ちる into each other. Me and my dad stood up 前線, so when the 押し進めるing happened again, we could 押し進める 支援する and the 支配 影響 would stop.'

His father said he lied to one of his kids who panicked.

'My youngest son 叫び声をあげるd when the Taliban started 狙撃 that first day, and I told my son: "Don't worry, it's not 狙撃, it's just 花火s like you see in D.C."

'The next day, he said: "Daddy, we are going to 花火s?" I said, "yes, we are going to 花火s."?He did not cry again.'?

Before the family could reach US soldiers at the gate, they had to go through two Taliban checkpoints (pictured on August 17) where fighters were ordering crowds
 to go away, firing machine guns into the air, and striking stragglers with the butts and straps of their weapons

Before the family could reach US 兵士s at the gate, they had to go through two Taliban 検問所s (pictured on August 17) where 闘士,戦闘機s were ordering (人が)群がるs to go away, 解雇する/砲火/射撃ing machine guns into the 空気/公表する, and striking stragglers with the butts and ひもで縛るs of their 武器s

Aria recalled being slammed in the back and shoulders with?Taliban soldiers' guns. Pictured: Taliban fighters patrolling the streets on Saturday, September 11

Aria 解任するd 存在 slammed in the 支援する and shoulders with?Taliban 兵士s' guns. Pictured: Taliban 闘士,戦闘機s patrolling the streets on Saturday, September 11

It was more difficult to 封鎖する his children from seeing the 暴力/激しさ 広げる when Taliban 兵士s slammed the father in the 支援する and shoulder with their guns.?

But Aria 辞退するd to show his children the bruising beneath his shirt.

'I lied to my family, my wife and my children,' he said. 'When I was beaten by machine gun in my shoulder; it looked very dark and 黒人/ボイコット.?

'I smiled to my children, but I had 苦痛 in my heart. I don't want to 除去する my 着せる/賦与するs in 前線 of my children. I try to keep it hiding.'

But the 恐れる and heat 原因(となる)d his children to 崩壊(する) several times.

'My big and little sister passed out many times,' Mustafa said. 'My 燃料 was done and I almost passed out too. But I had some energy drinks and I drank one. And my mom gave my (11-year-old) sister some water and some food so she'd feel better.'

Aria said the sight of his oldest daughter, Sara, passing out on the ground almost 原因(となる)d him to give up on their 使節団 to reach the airport.

'When I asked her how she was feeling, she could not talk,' he said. 'I couldn't look at my daughter. It was a very bad time. I felt that if I fell, who take care of my daughter?'

Returning to his family's home in Kabul that night, he discussed giving up. But his brother, a social 労働者, encouraged him to carry on.

'My family, my brother, 押し進めるd me and they 納得させるd me and 課すd on me that you have to leave the country,' Aria 解任するd.?

'My brother said it would be a 危険 for y ou and us, so please try to go and do your best to 保護する your children.'

Mustafa recalled seeing his sisters pass out 'many times' from fear and the stifling heat as they waited to get through the airport

Mustafa 解任するd seeing his sisters pass out 'many times' from 恐れる and the stifling heat as they waited to get through the airport?

Wais (pictured with wife Kubra) and his family - who moved to the US in 2017-? finally returned home on August? 26, but he says the kids are now returning to school while dealing with the trauma of their ordeal

Wais (pictured with wife Kubra) and his family - who moved to the US in 2017-? finally returned home on August? 26, but he says the kids are now returning to school while 取引,協定ing with the 外傷/ショック of their ordeal?

On the fourth day, Mustafa said, his father got an email from the US 大使館 advising 避難民s to 報告(する)/憶測 to a separate 入り口, the north gate, at midnight.

They waited there through the night, before his father learned of yet another entryway.

'When we went there, the Taliban told us we were late,' Mustafa said.

Hours later, they were 許すd to walk through. After a 45-minute walk, they reached US 海洋s who searched them for 武器s.?

They boarded a bus and were taken to an airport ramp where he said they waited for another nine hours, making a fort out of discarded 一面に覆う/毛布s to 保護物,者 them from the 炎ing sun. 早期に Thursday, August 26, a 計画(する) landed.

'It's time for 出発,' Mustafa 解任するs a 海洋 telling them.

They were packed の上に a flight with no seats, 密談する/(身体を)寄せ集めるd into a cabin so tightly packed that they could barely move.

'There was no space to turn your 直面する, or just to walk,' Aria said. 'There were no seats, no food. They just 発表するd we only have one washroom and you can use that only in 緊急.

'When they started 出発, everyone 落ちる 負かす/撃墜する on each other,' he said. 'I was exhausted mentally and physica lly. I thought to myself, don't worry, now you are 安全な. 受託する this 状況/情勢, this is just 一時的な…. At least I escaped form that 状況/情勢. There was a chance for me to be alive.'

'When I got into the 計画(する), I felt pretty happy,' Mustafa said. 'I already got out of Afghanistan, that's how I felt when I stepped の上に the 計画(する).'

It was only after they landed in Doha, Qatar that they learned of the deadly attack that killed the 非軍事のs and 13 US service members.

'We were in the same place,' Aria said. 'The 爆発 happened just five hours after we left, so our chances of 存在 there was high. It was scary.'

After a layover in Qatar, they flew to Germany then on to Washington, D.C.

Hundreds of people gather near an evacuation control checkpoint during ongoing evacuations at Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul Wednesday, August 25

Hundreds of people gather 近づく an 避難/引き上げ 支配(する)/統制する 検問所 during 現在進行中の 避難/引き上げs at Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul Wednesday, August 25?

Families evacuated from Kabul walk through the terminal before boarding a bus after they arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia last week

Families 避難させるd from Kabul walk through the 終点 before 搭乗 a bus after they arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia last week?

'It was very hard moment for me when I arrived in the US,' the father said.?

'It was unbelievable. I tried to understand myself that now you are in a 安全な place, now you're in a place where you can tell what you need and people will 保護する you.?

'But mentally I was not here. I felt it was a dream.'

にもかかわらず the 大混乱, Biden would later あられ/賞賛する the 決定/判定勝ち(する) to 身を引く all remaining 軍隊/機動隊s from Afghanistan, ending the 20-year war that the US 開始する,打ち上げるd a month after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.

支援する on American 国/地域, Aria watched the 大統領,/社長's speech with despair and dread.?

He said the 撤退 has made way for a new 時代 of Taliban 支配する, and once again made Afghanistan a 安全な 港/避難所 for テロリストs, 含むing an offshoot of ISIS that (人命などを)奪う,主張するd 責任/義務 for last month's 自殺 爆破.?

He also 表明するd 関心 with what he said was lax 審査 at Kabul Airport, which he 恐れるs a llowed テロリストs to escape with 偽造の 文書s along with thousands of other people who fled.

But his 即座の 関心 was for his family and former 同僚s, who worked with him at the now-消滅した/死んだ TABISH, a Farsi word meaning sunrise.

'Since I (機の)カム here, I talked with my brother and he explained to me the 状況/情勢 is worse than before,' Aria said.

He said the Taliban has just begun 割れ目ing 負かす/撃墜する on people who 協力するd with the US 政府 and other Western (独立の)存在s, 同様に as those who are 追求するing 人道的な work that goes against their strict 解釈/通訳 of Islamic 法律.?

His brother also spoke about rising poverty and 失業, how social 労働者s like him lost their 職業s and were hiding out, barely leaving their homes.

'I told my brother to please take care of yourself and your children, and to keep a low profile, don't communicate with people or tell them about your work or that your brother is in the US,' he said.

'I'm very 関心d about my family in Afghanistan, my coworkers,' he continued. 'I'm the one that got this chance to come out, but the 残り/休憩(する) of my team, my in-法律s, my sister and brother, coworkers who spent more than 10 years together.?

'Most are psychologists, mental health providers. They are not American 国民s. They are Afghan 国民s. The 大多数 are women, who unfortunately cannot come out from their home. They keep hiding themselves in different places.

'They want to leave, but how?' he asked. 'I 約束d them I would try my best, if I could, to find any places to help them get out. At the moment, there is no hope.'

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