05:17Speaking from Kabul on Wednesday, Zakir Anwari, brother of the late junior Afghan national football player Zaki, discussed the events that led to his relative's deadly fall during the evacuation of US and NATO coalition forces from Kabul Airport in August.
Zaki Anwari died on Monday 16 August after falling to his death from a departing US military airplane.
In his account of the story, Zakir Anwari revealed that his brother had chosen to go to the airport in the light of a “worrying” situation and news that the US and Canada “wanted to welcome the refugees.”
After letting his family know of his intentions at the airport, Zaki’s sister was informed of the tragic loss of her brother after receiving a phone call made by a stranger present at the airport.
“First I attempted to calm my family down. I said calm down, I am not sure if it is true or not. I said everyone releases fake news,” said Zakir, who later attempted to witness the scene of the accident before being rebuffed by Taliban forces.
"He was never wanting to leave his country, but he was telling us that when he finished school, he would like to get his bachelor degree from a foreign country,” explained Zakir.
Following the Taliban takeover of Kabul, thousands fled to the airport in an attempt to evacuate from the country, with some attempting to cling on to leaving airplanes. A number of stowaways died as a result, with footage of the tragic events being widely shared across social media.
Despite the deaths that took place early on in the evacuation of US and coalition forces from Afghanistan, US President Joe Biden has defended the steps taken during the evacuation process, which formally ended by the August 31 deadline.
Afghanistan: Brother reveals horror of football player killed clinging to Kabul plane
Speaking from Kabul on Wednesday, Zakir Anwari, brother of the late junior Afghan national football player Zaki, discussed the events that led to his relative's deadly fall during the evacuation of US and NATO coalition forces from Kabul Airport in August.
Zaki Anwari died on Monday 16 August after falling to his death from a departing US military airplane.
In his account of the story, Zakir Anwari revealed that his brother had chosen to go to the airport in the light of a “worrying” situation and news that the US and Canada “wanted to welcome the refugees.”
After letting his family know of his intentions at the airport, Zaki’s sister was informed of the tragic loss of her brother after receiving a phone call made by a stranger present at the airport.
“First I attempted to calm my family down. I said calm down, I am not sure if it is true or not. I said everyone releases fake news,” said Zakir, who later attempted to witness the scene of the accident before being rebuffed by Taliban forces.
"He was never wanting to leave his country, but he was telling us that when he finished school, he would like to get his bachelor degree from a foreign country,” explained Zakir.
Following the Taliban takeover of Kabul, thousands fled to the airport in an attempt to evacuate from the country, with some attempting to cling on to leaving airplanes. A number of stowaways died as a result, with footage of the tragic events being widely shared across social media.
Despite the deaths that took place early on in the evacuation of US and coalition forces from Afghanistan, US President Joe Biden has defended the steps taken during the evacuation process, which formally ended by the August 31 deadline.
Speaking from Kabul on Wednesday, Zakir Anwari, brother of the late junior Afghan national football player Zaki, discussed the events that led to his relative's deadly fall during the evacuation of US and NATO coalition forces from Kabul Airport in August.
Zaki Anwari died on Monday 16 August after falling to his death from a departing US military airplane.
In his account of the story, Zakir Anwari revealed that his brother had chosen to go to the airport in the light of a “worrying” situation and news that the US and Canada “wanted to welcome the refugees.”
After letting his family know of his intentions at the airport, Zaki’s sister was informed of the tragic loss of her brother after receiving a phone call made by a stranger present at the airport.
“First I attempted to calm my family down. I said calm down, I am not sure if it is true or not. I said everyone releases fake news,” said Zakir, who later attempted to witness the scene of the accident before being rebuffed by Taliban forces.
"He was never wanting to leave his country, but he was telling us that when he finished school, he would like to get his bachelor degree from a foreign country,” explained Zakir.
Following the Taliban takeover of Kabul, thousands fled to the airport in an attempt to evacuate from the country, with some attempting to cling on to leaving airplanes. A number of stowaways died as a result, with footage of the tragic events being widely shared across social media.
Despite the deaths that took place early on in the evacuation of US and coalition forces from Afghanistan, US President Joe Biden has defended the steps taken during the evacuation process, which formally ended by the August 31 deadline.