In August 2021, thousands of Afghans rushed to Kabul Airport in a desperate bid to escape the Taliban’s swift takeover, leading to harrowing scenes of chaos and tragedy.

On August 16, 2021, panic gripped Kabul as the Taliban seized control of the city, prompting thousands of Afghans to flood the airport in hopes of fleeing the country. Among them was Najeeb Ferotan, a former employee of the German military, who had worked for years to support international efforts in Afghanistan. Seen as a traitor by the Taliban, Ferotan was instructed to reach the Qasaba Gate for evacuation. However, the scene was chaotic, with American soldiers firing warning shots and using pepper spray to control the desperate crowds.

Ferotan described the harrowing conditions at the airport, where people were crushed in the stampede, bones were broken, and children narrowly escaped being trampled. Despite holding out for days and attempting to signal his affiliation with the German military, Ferotan was unable to secure a spot on an evacuation flight. On August 26, he left the airport, narrowly avoiding a suicide bombing at the Abbey Gate that killed 169 Afghans and 13 U.S. soldiers. The evacuation mission ended shortly after, marking the departure of the last German troops from Afghanistan.

Over 11 days, the German military evacuated 5,347 individuals, including German citizens, local staff, and others deemed at risk. The operation was described as a race against time and bureaucracy, with soldiers making split-second decisions about who could board the flights. The images of desperation and tragedy at Kabul Airport remain etched in global memory, highlighting the human cost of the Taliban’s return to power and the challenges of evacuation under extreme circumstances.