Afghan emigré has hope for homeland

Mohammad Ghani grew up in an Afghanistan that managed to prosper despite its barren terrain and political instability from being sandwiched between the Soviet Union and the free societies of Pakistan and India.

Ghani, the son of a mayor, earned a degree from the university and taught math and physics in high school. But he fled the country with his family during the Soviet occupation of the 1980s.

As a new immigrant in Virginia, he worked three low-wage jobs at once just to keep his family fed and housed.

A few years ago, however, he returned to his native country as a translator for the U.S. Army because of patriotism and a desire to see family members.

At first, he said, he was heartbroken to see the devastation in the capital city Kabul. But later he became optimistic that Afghanistan will return to peace and prosperity with American help.

Life is different today. He operates Summerlin Smoke Shop, a place with the friendly atmosphere found in some neighborhood restaurants.

Patrons soon will be able to hang out in his new cigar smoking parlor and hear war stories from halfway around the globe.

Question: Where did you grow up?

Answer: My father was twice the mayor of my city, which was Herat, on the west side of Afghanistan. It's a very historical city. After graduation, I was teaching mathematics and physics in high school.

In 1978, the Russians invaded Afghanistan. In 1980, I had to leave Afghanistan. I left with my two kids and my wife through the mountains. We went from Herat to Kabul (the capital of Afghanistan) and from Kabul to Pakistan.

Question: Did you leave because of the Russian occupation?

Answer: Of course. There was no chance of living. You have two chances. One was to join the political party of Communism and the other was to join mujahedeen (a military group of Muslim guerrilla soldiers).

Question: So you moved to Pakistan?

Answer: For six months or eight months in Pakistan, I was doing nothing. We lived off my assets.

In 1981, I was accepted as a refugee to the United States. We came to Virginia, because my father-in-law was my sponsor and he lived in Virginia. He worked for 21 years in the United States Embassy in Afghanistan. He came to the United States (earlier).

After four months looking for a job, I found a job pressing clothes in a dry cleaners. At the same time, I worked in restaurants. I later drove a cab.

Question: Why were you working three jobs?

Answer: Because I could not survive otherwise.

Question: Was it hard to get jobs where you could use your education?

Answer: Yes. I would need to get further education to teach school, and I had to support my family.

Later, we moved to Orange County, (Calif.), In 1987. I worked with my brother in carpet installation.

Then, in San Diego, I drove a taxi, and then I bought a grocery store with Middle Eastern foods.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, I heard people were hiring people to work in Afghanistan with the military as translators. I applied to Titan Corp. and was accepted in March 2004. The majority in Afghanistan speak Pashtu. I also speak Farsi, which people in Afghanistan call Dari. I was with the Army of the United States until September 2006.

Question: Why did you want to work as a translator in Afghanistan?

Answer: I like to serve the country if I can be some help. Also, some of my family was still over there.

Question: Had Afghanistan changed since your last visit?

Answer: When I came to Kabul in 1980, Kabul was fine. The university, the schools, the offices, the streets, electricity, water. Everything was OK.

When I went back in 2004 to Kabul, I was crying. I couldn't believe that this was the Kabul I recollected 25 years ago. There is no electricity, no water. Right now, Kabul is a lot better compared with the way it was three or four years ago.

Question: Was the country torn up by war or by the Taliban?

Answer: I hate the Taliban. That's not the question, but it's politics. (Afghanistan) was created as a border between communism and capitalism.

The government of the country for 40 of 50 years tried to maintain friendly relationships (with both communist and free states that it neighbored). It was good. At least the people were comfortable. No problems at all. We had a good constitution. The country was growing a little bit.

The kings, all the leaders, knew they had a geopolitical problem. It's like you have two friends, and you are trying to make both of them happy.

(Afghan leaders) were always compromising politically. The country has nothing. There is no cultivation. We don't have any trade actually. So the income for the majority is nothing. There is no business.

I think in five years Afghanistan will be changed. If security is improved in Afghanistan, Afghanistan is perfect.

Question: Are you happy that the Americans went to Afghanistan?

Answer: More than happy. Some people think if the Americans left, the people could survive -- no. (Afghans) don't have anything. No money. No economy. This is the best chance for (rebuilding the country). America is helping us.

I went with the American military to one village, and the people played American football with the soldiers.

I would tell the people that we can help you with security here. We can provide you with streets. We can provide you with schools. We can help you with the water.

Question: Did you save money to buy the smoke shop while working as a translator?

Answer: Yes. It was tax-free. I did not have any expenses. The laundry was free. The food was free. You live over there like a king, but you sometimes are in danger. You went on missions in the mountains.