YouSaid · the spoken record

Lotfullah Najafizada

lines on the record: 55
first: 2022-02-17
most recent: 2022-02-17
sittings or episodes: 1
sources: podcast

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“Thank you, David. An honor. Thank you for having me. It's an honor to know you. And thank you for the opportunity that you gave me to be a fellow with the Institute of Politics.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I think a lot. I didn't know it before I had children. I definitely don't want them to go through the difficulty that I went through. But at the same time, I don't want them to forget Afghanistan or where we come from. And what does that mean to me and to their mother and to their grandparents? I hope I'm hopeful and I'm an optimist. I hope that the current situation in the country changed for better. I believe the status quo, the Taliban... Current way of ruining won't last long. It either goes south or they commit to a political process and improve the situation. And if that changes, I think the best place for us is the place that we know best.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“No, I went to Pakistan in November and I wanted to go in and discuss and sit down with the Taliban in Kabul and then some friends suggested that I shouldn't do it because in that particular week that I was in Islamabad The Taliban had issued a very strong antimedia statement that was not leaving a lot of room for meaningful interactions. I think probably it's not necessarily a safety issue, but it's definitely a productivity and impact issue. You are free to do whatever you want. I think that's... That's probably my biggest concern.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, I want to live in Afghanistan. I still sometimes wake up and I miss going to the office and meeting people and friends. But it's difficult. I think the adjustment is going to take a lot of time. I'm still undecided on so many fronts, whether that's professional or personal. I think I might be involved with things related to the Afghan media, particularly, but in general with Afghanistan. I think if I can contribute to that country in one way or another, I think that's what I owe back to Afghanistan.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Think the good thing that's happening is that if the Taliban are abandoned or semi-abandoned, the people of Afghanistan are not. The US is still the largest donor to the country, 500 million dollars have been paid to Afghanistan for the humanitarian support in the past six months. I think that support should continue because that's when the Afghan people need it the most. We can debate how and when to make sure that Taliban are not benefited. From that support and use it to suppress the Afghan people more. But I think that engagement with the Afghan people should continue and it shouldn't be after the Cold War when the international community, the US, just forgot about everything in Afghanistan, including its people. I see that distinction this time around.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, I think America was part of an Afghanistan story that changed the country for better. I think the Afghan people or me as an individual here, I'm grateful to the American people for what they have done and their support for the Afghan cause. As an American policy, an American administration policy, we can go into greater detail and analyze that and go through a list of mistakes which we briefly did earlier. I think to ordinary American public and listeners of our conversation, they should be proud of their engagement with Afghanistan. And they made real difference. And I'm sure Afghans are a great group.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“20 years is a very long time, and some of the surveys that I had seen before fall off Kabul was putting approval rating of democracy on a republic system more than 80%. And this comes from rural Afghanistan. This comes from, you know, not necessarily. And I think they have tested it. They have tested freedom. They have tested free press. They have tested international engagement. What they have right now is not what they wished for. Even from a security point of view, there's no guarantee that the current, I think, structure in Afghanistan is guaranteeing security in Afghanistan, as well as those who are involved, particularly the United States, who does not want another 9-11 to go forbid to happen.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I think the protests in Kabul is something that we didn't have when the Taliban were there first time around. Women of Afghanistan weren't as empowered and educated and informed as they are today. And that says so much about some of the real gains of the past 20 years. That cannot be undone. I agree with you. I think, as I said, Taliban can rule the country, but they won't be able to deliver and govern and have public support on the severity change, on the state, well, probably it's also difficult to expect and change, but they at least should see other changes around them and commit to an ecosystem where all these realities can coexist.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“But I kept the title based on suggestions from colleagues who didn't want more controversy when they had enough on their plates. But at some point, I realized that I haven't said it publicly yet, but at some point, I thought maybe I should just simply put an end to this phase of my professional life. So I stepped down. And as you said, I think before the beginning of our conversation that probably 10 years is good enough of a period. I think mine was just a little bit more than that.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“And ninety five to ninety seven percent of Afghans are going to be under poverty line next year. Five million kids are facing acute malnutrition as we speak. But at the same time you see this peaceful resistance happening by women of Afghanistan who were not necessarily activists, rights activists under the Republic. They are coming from different professions and backgrounds and because they don't see a future for themselves they come to the streets and protest. And that says so much about some of these restrictions and of course restrictions on media. that the Taliban's, I think, interference, particularly from their intelligence agency in the day-to-day affairs of media, it's something unprecedented and painful for somebody like me to”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“The Taliban are ruling the country. I'm not sure if they're really governing the country. There is this end of conflict, David, but it doesn't mean lasting peace. So how to bridge that end of conflict and a lasting permanent peace is the question of the hour. And that's where a political process is needed. What you see in Afghanistan right now is, of course, less people are dying, which is good. But in the same time, there is this widespread nationwide sense of hopelessness, this lack of confidence. Everyone wants to leave the country. This humanitarian crisis that you mentioned, two-thirds of Afghans do not have enough food to squint.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I was happy that at least we had an opportunity to share our strong views and our beliefs. If you tell me I'm super excited that things will change, I'm probably not. But what have been different if I hadn't at least shared my view and not attended the conference?”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, I don't know if I told you I was in Oslo three weeks ago for talks with the Taliban. And it was the first time that a group of civil society members of a civil society in their individual capacities had a chance to sit down with the Taliban in greater detail and discuss a potential roadmap for the future. And because I still believe in talks, I still believe in engagement. Did you believe?”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Right. And I think that tells us so much about how well prepared the withdrawal was for U.S. citizens, for NATO allies, as well as for Afghan partners. I think that criticism is well founded. And I'm glad that I see that the US administration is engaging with the Taliban about the safe passage of those who are at risk. Afghanistan is not safe for people who think otherwise. Even if it is somewhat safe at the moment, there isn't safety and immunity for those who work for US and other governments, there is that risk and we see a lot of extrajudicial killings in Afghanistan. Right now.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I think so. I think the withdrawal was chaotic. We were all talking about Saigon moment and now we have a cobble moment, people jumping on the planes and hanging and...”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Initially, it was a four segment intertwined, interconnected strategy that the US Taliban deal should be only applicable if the Afghan Taliban deal is there. But we secured the first one, lost the second one. It was a winner take-off for the Taliban.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I think that you can never deny was very systematic and effective to fund and lead the insurgency. Also, at great price in their own country, TTP and victims of Pakistani people. I think third mistake was probably the US engagement with certain elements and groups within Afghanistan, the investment in individuals rather than institutions. I think individualizing the Afghan policy on the US front was definitely a mistake, both under Karzai as well as under Ghani. And when that individual goes rogue or drifts the lane, then You can see the consequences. The consequences are not as desired as you can expect. And then the last piece of mistake of the past 20 years was the U.S. and the way U.S. Taliban negotiations were conducted.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Right, right. I mean, Quetashura is a Pakistan city, right? Peshawarshura is a Pakistan city, right? Miram Shah Shura is a Pakistan town, right? These were not hideouts of the Taliban. These were declared sort of celebrated. Headquarters of Taliban.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“In particular 2008-2009 when the newest strategy was being developed in Washington, I think the pressure on Pakistan wasn't there to really change the course. And they always managed to find a way. By Pakistan, I don't mean to generalize Pakistan. Of course, we're talking about specific groups here within the Pakistani establishment.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yes, yes, of course. I think the list of mistakes is very long. The first mistake, in my view, was to ignore the Taliban in 2001 in the Bonn Conference. I think when they laid the foundation of a new Afghanistan, they should have seen the fault lines. And they should have seen what the Talibs really wanted. Taliban leaders now say that their options were very limited either go to Guantanamo or background prison or go to the mountains. So they were not given an opportunity to even come and live in a dignified life, have a dignified life. Let alone including them in the political process. So that's one. Second, I think the engagement with Pakistan, I mean, you can tell us about your time in office in 2009.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Transition to the Taliban or to a shared Taliban non Taliban political setup. I think Rani's escape did not allow that to happen. Probably the Taliban were also too confident by them that it was not necessary for a political On their end now that we know, we've heard from US negotiators after fall of Kabul that the Taliban had agreed to give 40% of power to non-Taliban groups. Was it going to be better than what we have today? Yes. Was it really enough? Probably some people argue otherwise. I think to your question, I think in the last couple of months The standing of the republic was very, very shaky.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I was in Islamabad in june twenty twenty one interviewing Pakistan Foreign Minister and attending a track to a meeting as well with Pakistani officials and I realized because of the Taliban's deep relationship with Pakistan I realized that the Taliban was strongly determined to take over the country militarily. When I came back to Kabul, I shared my views with friends and others whom I talked to they should know. That was probably, in my view, the end of the political process. Taliban were taking districts after another two or three up to five a day from 400 districts of Afghanistan. But then I think towards the end of July, it was obvious that this government will not last. The 15th of August, the day and how it happened, I think that was unexpected. A lot of people were expected. Formal.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I think the Taliban's understanding of their talks with the United States was something else and the U.S. expectation of the Taliban was probably unrealistic. And in the process of US Taliban trying to come to terms, we lost an administration, a government in Kabul in Afghanistan as a collateral damage. I think that process of two years or three years of US Taliban talks resulted in demoralizing the Afghan forces, resulted in letting people in the country down. But in the same time, we didn't have, you know, I want to be very honest about it. We didn't have the right leader in Afghanistan as well, who ultimately, of course, gave up and fled the country. The hour that we needed leadership from him and sacrifice, he fled the country with a bunch of advisors and friends.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“We had no other choice but to give it a try, that I believed being the only solution to bringing lasting peace, ending the conflict and bringing lasting peace. But the process went terribly wrong. That disappointed us.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“A second bomb went off, and Samim and Romez were killed instantly on that evening. At that says so much about their commitment to their country. So when we talk about Afghanistan, it's not just about numbers. These are real stories of people who paid the ultimate sacrifice and they really worked hard. I think their memories need to be remembered in Afghanistan and abroad. And I'm very happy you brought up that point.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I want people to know that these beautiful souls and young and vibrant Afghans, they had a dream in the most difficult circumstances and one of the most difficult countries in the world. And they believed in themselves and they believed in the future of their country. I think they were working so hard. One of the journalists, Amin Faromars, who we lost on April 5, 2018, he was covering with a shift. So he stayed in the office to cover another story. And then he went to cover suicide bombing while”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, she said, no. She said, you know, you're going to die single. So, you know, and then I gave up on that idea of becoming 100% peaceful.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“As the only son and the family, I think she badly wanted to see some. And then I was like, you know, I'll get married when Afghanistan becomes peaceful. And then she was good.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, yeah, I must thank her for that. And she was, I think she realized that she was subscribing to a difficult life back in 2016-2017. The change in our life was so dramatic. And then I was telling my mom that who was also pushing me very hard not just to quit but also to get married.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I cried when I had a chance. I have hardly spoken about it. I'm very happy that I get a chance years later now that I talk to you about it. But it breaks you. It's not easy. It's somehow leaves you with scars and with damage that you take it with you throughout your life.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“But I think then we had to talk to all our colleagues to identify whether shutting down the business and the TV channel was the best option or to continue that. And most people, an overwhelming majority over, I think 95% in order to honor their sacrifices, we should keep up.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“We were mourning, but at the same time, we were reporting, which was our main duty. You know, my colleagues who were reporting live from the scene, they had tearful eyes. But we couldn't become sensational or too carried away because that was the story of Afghans every day. But it was very painful because it was so close to our hearts. And particularly when you go to hospitals, you know, I remember that evening trying to identify bodies and burn bodies burned. And then you have to match them with their IDs and then call their families and more painful to see the wounded. And similar incidents happen years later. And it became unfortunately a routine. So looking into all of that, I'm very happy that there is this at least pause in bloodshed, although the price is very high for that. I'm sure we'll talk about it.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“We were providing transportation given that Kabul and Afghanistan in general and Kabul in particular doesn't have much of established public transport. We were providing transportation for our staff. And this bus was taking them back home at, I think at around 5.5 p.m. It was like now, I think it was a winter night. It was dark already when the bus was hit. And then we had to rush to the, I think we started reporting our crew arrived there before we learned that this was our bus. So they started reporting about it as just another incident. And then we realized that it was our colleagues. And then we had to rush to the hospitals. To find out who's dead and who's alive and what can be done about it. Unfortunately, that was just the beginning of the killings of journalists.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Was a tragic evening January 20th, 2016, when a Taliban car bomb just a hundred days after they threatened us and labeled us as a military target. They hit a bus carrying my colleagues back to their homes in western part of the city. And as a result, we lost seven colleagues, 17 others were wounded. Let me just add.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“We were worried and concerned about live in Kabul more than we. And it was becoming more and more difficult, particularly when I was placed under stricter security regime, that I had to first, as such, you know, I have to use an armored car. And then one bodyguard, two bodyguards, right? So it started, you know, adding and then changed house from one place to another. Don't go home for an entire month and then change your house. It came to a point where they were asking me to paint your car. So, if you have a white card, so paint it to black. And then next month, change the color again. From that perspective, I think the threat was serious. It was not just the Taliban, but Daesh and others.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Right, it's just a paradox. And I think that is because the journalists in that country really wanted to make a difference and go after stories. And after 2015, the incident that you referred to, we were already part of the Afghan politics, but we became really this tool for the Taliban and others to use it for political purposes. And we tried to convince them and others that, you know, they should treat us as a neutral independent organization. They shouldn't try to politicize the Afghan media, particularly Tolonius. But I think that was too late. And as a result, we had to engage with them. That I had to travel, other colleagues had to travel, talk to them. And before the beginning of the peace process with the US, as well as after that, in order to make sure we can safeguard some of those changes.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“As we were gaining more experience and becoming more comfortable with the job, the environment was becoming more uncomfortable. I think the list of people who hated free press and journalists who were asking questions was getting longer and longer. So as you said, it was not just the Taliban, drug lords, mafia, just strong men. And at the local level, probably for local journalists at provincial levels, they were even more of a challenge to operate. I think Afghanistan had the freakest press in the entire region while being one of the deadliest country for journalists. So that is such a weird paradigm.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I think I was probably too young for the job. You know, I had to make sure I put a tie on every day. And so for people to take me serious. Right, you know, this country of traditional warlords and politicians and religious leaders who don't think young people quite seriously, and especially if you don't come from a very prominent background. So I had to really make sure I'm noticed.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“24 7 news channel so Total News was established in 2010 and I was involved with it you know from the initial days I was already in the company leading a significant part of the newsroom and that's how I jumped the ladder I think 2011 I officially became the head of Tolo News that I was I think yes I must say I was pretty young if I had the opportunity today I would have I should have probably rejected it”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“So Mobi Group is or has been this amazing media group in the country. I was traveling, I was attending an online journalism training in Germany with a journalist from back then Tolo TV. Tolo News didn't exist in 2008, I think. And then on the way back to Kabul, he asked me that if he wanted me to come and join them, I said, yeah, why not? So that's how he introduced me and I went for a job interview. I think I got it. I was initially the head of online for Moby Group. And then I think a year later they realized that it was essential for the country, a country full of news like Afghanistan, to come up with”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I think this friend of mine was. Who had this small newspaper in Bazaar asked me to come and help with designing because he had nobody else. And then in his family home, he had this, you know, one of these old computers. He did not even have a desk. So that computer was on the floor. And I was spending hours every day designing pages of that A4 newspaper prints. So that's how I started. And then I started going to conferences and others. And then I moved on to a more serious journey. In Polyhombre, it's another town in northern Afghanistan. And I think I was just 18 and very young. That was the first time I was on my own in a place where I knew no one. So I think that's where my real journalistic career began”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Doing some journalism and that somehow encouraged us to do more. So in Oppenzar, even my family started a small family newspaper, which we took a lot of pride for it. And that cousin of mine, who is also now in Canada. So he was giving us this opportunity. So all of us, I think at some point we're about 12 or 15 journalists in the family. We all became this accidental journalist. Some of us stayed in the business and the more genius ones moved on. They tried other things.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Right. I think when the US invaded Afghanistan or after the Taliban regime was toppled in 2001, we felt, David, that the country was liberated. There was this vibe of freedom in the air. And with that freedom, then you have this energy in you that you want to do things. And I think part of that in our bigger family was that, you know, we should, we were still quite young. I mean, cousins and others, you know, we wanted to get involved politically, particularly coming from a minority, that was an extra sort of sense of freedom in our family that we should be more involved. So a cousin or two were already in the media business.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“They wanted me to stay with them, but at the same time go to school. And I know that it was pretty hard for them to. Afford the very basic needs of us going to school.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I come from Shia parents. So Iran was this traditional destination. That they wanted to go, but also others were going to Pakistan and others were going to the Gulf countries. So I think that was one instruction and decision from my parents that I never forget. They said, you know, this is not the path that we want you to choose. And this was happening at some of the most difficult time of my life.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I think education was something very, very serious in our larger family, not just my parents, my uncles, and I think my grandfather, who was this semi-religious scholar, who gave up on sending his sons to Madrasa but instead sending them to modern school. That was already a revolution, I think in the village that he was living in. And I think that set a precedence to our people in the family, in our family, to go to school. We were living in Razni during the civil war in the 90s, early 90s. And I was very young and I wanted to go to Iran. To just, I don't know, become a child laborer or something. And then my father and my mom said, we will never allow you to follow the pattern or the path of probably thousands of other teenagers who were going from that village to Iran to work. Because that was this Shia village.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I think it's destiny. It's something that happened to so many people. I think they were just lucky and happy that we were alive.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I can't compare. And we're refugees again, but you can't compare it to what we went through. And on what so many Afghan children are still going through.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I think for a lot of it's not just me in Afghanistan. It's not just children of my neighborhood. I think this applies to one, two or three generations of people in the country who have missed their childhood totally. We didn't have a television set at our home until I think I was, I don't know, 15 or something. We didn't have never been to a park. Not that I remember before 10 or 12. So I think You know, this particular part of our life, as people call it childhood, now that I have a three-year-old and two-year-old.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I'm sure. I'm sure. It's difficult to talk about it. It's difficult to, you can't wake up every day and then sort of remember the terrible things happen to you and people that you cared and loved. And your country and your people in general.”
2022-02-17 · The Axe Files with David Axelrod · Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source