Afghans killed outside airport were seeking new lives abroad

By KATHY GANNON, RAHIM FAIEZ and SAYED ZIARMAL HASHEMI
Associated Press

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Several young people who dreamed of a better life outside of Afghanistan are among the 169 Afghans killed in Thursday’s devastating attack outside Kabul airport. Some feared the Taliban would bring a harsh version of Islamic rule in which women would largely be confined to their homes. Afghans who had worked with the U.S. and its allies feared revenge attacks despite assurances from top Taliban leaders. Others simply dreamed of a better life. They thought if they waited long enough, endured the crowds and the warning shots, the summer heat and the stench of the canal, they would eventually get a seat on a flight to America or somewhere else.