A BRIT dad who travelled to Afghanistan on a rescue mission to save his family from the Taliban is still trapped in the country.
And dad-of-four Sidiq Marofahail – who made the 4,000-mile dash to take his family back to the UK – has made a desperate plea for help saying his family is terrified of Taliban reprisals.
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Sidiq, from Bolton, Lancs, arrived in Kabul just hours before a terrorist bomb exploded at the airport killing at least 90 people.
Two of Sidiq’s children – daughter Asia, six, and son Tawid, three – were pictured on Central Recorder’s front page clutching their British passports at the gates of the airport and Sidiq feared they had been killed in the blast.
We later discovered that they were both alive and had been reunited to their father.
Sidiq is now begging the British government to rescue his family.
Sidiq, a pizza store worker, is hiding at a remote location. He hopes to be able to plot an escape route soon.
Sidiq, 29, who is with his Afghan wife Sultan Zari and their two other children, Aliya, one, and Mustafa, four months, told Central Recorder: “My family is terrified every day. They fear the Taliban will attack us.
“We are hiding and I hope to be able to escape, I just don’t know how I will do that.
“We need help from the British government but I just don’t know who to speak with.
“I came to Afghanistan with £1,000 which I had saved up in the UK but I only have 400 left to support my family, but it won’t last forever.
“Please I hope someone can help us, I want to take my family to England to be safe and start a new life.”
Sidiq immigrated to Britain in 2006. He works in a Horwich, Lancs pizza shop.
Sidiq claimed he left his Jalalabad home to live a better life. He also sent money to his wife.
When the Taliban took over Afghanistan, he realized that his family was in imminent danger and decided to do something.
He stated that he was afraid for his family’s safety when the Taliban overtook Afghanistan. It’s not safe, so I decided that I would try to bring them home to the UK.
“I got in through Uzbekistan and came to Kabul.”
Sidiq arrived in Kabul on August 26, just hours after a bomb devastated Kabul’s airport. This was as civilians fled the Taliban-controlled country.
At least 95 people were killed, and 150 more were injured.
13 US service personnel were among those who died.
We are hiding and I hope to be able to escape, I just don’t know how I will do that.
Sidiq Marofahail
Sidiq added: “I just hope I can still get my family out of Afghanistan soon and take them to England, but it becomes harder and harder each day.”
The Foreign Office says they are in contact with Sidiq and are offering consular support.
The Foreign Secretary visited Pakistan and Qatar earlier in the month to discuss ways to maintain vital evacuation routes.
Two flights to Doha that were facilitated by Qatari authorities have brought 34 British Nationals to safety.
Over 15,000 people have been evacuated by the UK, including nearly 7,000 British nationals and families.
G7 partners and the UK made it clear that Taliban must allow free movement for those who wish to leave.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The UK’s evacuation operation helped over 15,000 people to safety including British nationals, Afghan interpreters, and other vulnerable people.
While the operation was a success, it did not meet our expectations. However, we know there are still many people in very difficult situations.
“The UK is working with international partners to secure safe routes out of Afghanistan as soon as they become available.”
The Home Office stated that although the security situation is extremely volatile, it advises that Afghan citizens not apply for visas until biometrics have been provided.
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