It’s something Esmat Nazaryar remembers every night, and it underscores the inherent danger and personal risk involved with development work in one of the world’s most violent places.
On April 17, Nazaryar, a Canadian citizen and country director with the Hope International Development Agency, was kidnapped from a relative’s home in a village in Kunduz province in northern Afghanistan.
Armed men entered the home in the middle of the night while Nazaryar and members of his family slept. Multiple shots went off during the struggle to capture him. Nazaryar’s brother and cousin were wounded by gunfire, while his brother-in-law was shot and killed. Nazaryar says he later learned his brother-in-law, a father of five and married to his sister, had tried to protect him, and was killed for that.
Nazaryar was held captive in a tiny house outside the city of Khan Abad for two nights. During the ordeal he was at different times rigorously confined, bound with chains and beaten. The kidnappers more than likely wanted money and the exact reason why Nazaryar was released remains unclear, but he was eventually freed by a guard he struck an agreement with. He says he still doesn’t know if his escape was planned by the whole group or by the one guard.
In September, Nazaryar visited 100 Mile House, accompanied by area resident Jack Witty and John King, Hope International’s director of development. They talked about the South Cariboo Afghanistan Project, a charitable endeavour that since 2004 has benefited the Village of Jeloucha in Afghanistan, where Nazaryar is from and well-known and respected for the work he’s done in the impoverished region.
King says approximately $80,000 has come from donors in the South Cariboo, which has aided in the construction of a medical clinic, clean water system, roads, a seed and animal bank and a new school. Ongoing work continues in Jeloucha and surrounding areas.
Nazaryar, a resident of Surrey with a wife and four children, first shared this story with the 100 Mile House Free Press when he visited in September.
Shortly after that, he and a program manager with Hope International spoke with officials from the Task Force on International Critical Incidents, a unit within the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD), which manages national security incidents that pose significant risks to the safety of Canadians or Canadian assets in cases like kidnappings, airline hijackings and terrorist attacks.
When the kidnapping of Nazaryar happened back in April, it’s understood by Hope International and Nazaryar that the crisis team kept tabs on the situation and dealt with things like communication between the two countries.
It’s unclear what other steps Canadian officials took with respect to investigating the matter, or what inquiries they’ve made with Afghan authorities, then or since.
Jean-Bruno Villeneuve, a spokesperson with the DFATD, confirms Canadian diplomatic services met Nazaryar following his release.
“The Embassy of Canada in Afghanistan’s ability to provide consular and other support throughout the country is very limited,” Villeneuve explains in an e-mail. “To protect the private and personal information of the individual concerned, further details on this case cannot be released.”
He adds the DFATD is pleased Nazaryar has safely returned to Canada, while stressing the government of Canada does not have jurisdiction in Afghanistan to investigate these types of incidents.
“We call on the government of Afghanistan to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.”
Members of Hope International are weary of sounding like they’re criticizing the government’s response in fear of damaging their ongoing working relationship and jeopardizing any future funding.
King does say the fact Nazaryar was working with a Canadian organization should have some bearing on how this country’s government handles the matter.
“Because Esmat was born in Afghanistan, they see it as an internal issue. Esmat is a Canadian citizen, so they should be somewhat concerned.
“Esmat is trying to prevent a spiralling of violence, trying to make peace. If the government would help him, he would probably be successful.”
Nazaryar says authorities in both countries continue to ignore the matter and see it as an insignificant Afghan death in one remote village. He notes if the matter is left unresolved by authorities, it could spark further retribution and conflict between people in Afghanistan.
Nazaryar says he believes the situation requires political discussion and action here in Canada. He talks about bringing justice to the matter and how pressure from Canada can force Afghan police and members of government to do more.
“So far, I know nothing happened. I have no information [from investigators]. Nothing, of course, from the Afghanistan police or government. They don’t much care unless there’s some pressure on them.”
The DFATD advises against all travel to Afghanistan, Villeneuve says.
“Due to the unstable security situation, ongoing insurgency, terrorist attacks, the risk of kidnapping and a high crime rate.”
(This is a point South Cariboo residents perhaps already understand, recalling the murder by Taliban insurgents near Kabul in 2008 of three aid workers. Among them was Shirley Case, who grew up in 100 Mile House.)
Close to nine months after that horrifying night in Kunduz province, Nazaryar says his sister and her children are “surviving.”
“I’m trying to help them out. It’s difficult. Small kids don’t have a father. A young woman doesn’t have a husband. Especially in a country like Afghanistan and a village like Jeloucha, life is difficult.”
Nazaryar says he spoke with his brother recently about them and what they need to prepare for winter. He adds it’s because of him his brother-in-law lost his life and members of his family were hurt.
“Always, it stays with me. Why I can’t do anything. Why I didn’t do anything. Everything is ‘Why?’ I remember this every night. It comes in my mind, how it happened, why it happened. Those kinds of things. Then I fall asleep.”
