We don’t trust Pakistan’s intentions. Neither do we rely on China and Saudi Arabia. India has been our friend for the longest time, and only Prime Minister Narendra Modi can help us now,” Zahir Khan, an Afghanistan-origin businessman in Kolkata’s Mullick Bazar told Indiatoday.in as the Taliban took control of his country on Sunday.
Like other Afghan people IndiaToday.in spoke to, Zahir Khan, who has been living in Kolkata for years after his father relocated to India about 25 years ago, too is deeply saddened by the situation in Afghanistan.
“I will accept anything in this country, even going to prison, but I won’t go to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan,” said Zahir Khan, a second-generation Afghan.
Kolkata is home to several Afghans, more popularly known as ‘Kabuliwalas’, which translates to “men from Kabul”. They are also known as the ‘Khans’ here. They came to the city around the 1840s and since then, they have become a part of Kolkata’s rich history.
Rabindra Nath Tagore’s short story titled ‘Kabuliwala’ in 1892 made them an essential part of Kolkata’s ethos. They started off as money-lenders and dry fruit sellers in the city, but many of them now have tailoring or clothes shops.
