Local Afghan Refugee Willing To Fight For U.S.
Monday October 08 04:05 PM EDT
WJXT News4Jax.com
A former refugee from Afghanistan said Monday that he would volunteer to go back to his former country to fight alongside American soldiers in the United States' war against terrorism.

Rahmatullah Gul grew up in Helmand, Afghanistan, not far from the Taliban's headquarters in Kandahar.

Long before the Taliban gained power, Gul and his family came to America in 1987, as refugees during the war with Russia.

Gul told Eyewitness News' Dan Evans that he frequently talks to his friends in Afghanistan. Gul said he has been told that the current situation is nearly hopeless.

"It's even worse now," Gul said.

Gul said that most Afghanis have hopes that America will save them from the grip of the Taliban.

"If they (Taliban) don't like them, they torture them or kill them," Gul said.

Gul said that most Afghanis also hope that their former king, now exiled in Italy, will someday return to power so that they can live independently.

"The people are happy with what's going on right now, because what's happening right now, the majority of the people, they like America and they want to be involved," Gul said.

Evans reported that Rahmatullah joined the Army Reserve two years ago.

"I like to serve the country to pay back for when they helped us back there," Gul said. "And I want to now pay back to the United States."

Gul reported to his Jacksonville unit to volunteer for duty in Afghanistan. He said he knows that he can be an asset because Pashtu is his native tongue and he knows the terrain.

"No problem, I'm ready to go," Gul said.

Evans reported that Gul has yet to get the call, but if and when he does, Gul said that he can help people in both of his countries.