The East Bay is home to one of the largest Afghan communities in the U.S.
Some fled to Fremont's "Little Kabul" because their lives were in danger after helping the U.S. during the war in Afghanistan. Now, members of the community are desperately trying to help family back home after the Taliban's takeover amid the withdrawal of American troops.
One woman, whom we'll call Jane, didn't want to be identified because she's worried about retaliation by the Taliban against her family, including her cousin who worked for the U.S., and the family members of others within her Fremont community.
"She's like, 'If they find out I worked for the U.S. military, not only will they kill me, (but) my husband and my 2-year-old,' " Jane said of her cousin in an interview with KCBS Radio on Monday. "So she's locked in her home, not knowing what to do."
Desperate for help and especially worried about her aunt who was disabled and tortured by the Taliban decades ago, Jane visited the Afghan Coalition office in Fremont on Monday.
"(She) was actually in the process of doing paperwork," Jane said of her aunt. "But then, the embassies shut down. They never figured that (the Taliban) would take over so fast."
And for that, Jane said she partly blames the timing for the U.S. withdrawal from the country. It feels like her ancestral home and family have been abandoned, she told KCBS Radio.
"It's scary," Jane said. "I just want someone to help us, someone to say, 'Hey, look! This is the door. Walk in. These are the papers. Let's get them out.' "
Jane said she also fears the Taliban, now in control of the country, could cut off electricity and internet access in Afghanistan. That would make it even harder for her to try and help.
"How are they gonna survive," she asked. "How are we gonna know if they're OK?"
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