LAHORE, Oct 24: A large number of Afghans living in Lahore for the past several years have left for Afghanistan to join the Taliban in their war against the United States.

Many others left are still monitoring the situation to determine their future role in case international coalition succeeds to overthrow the Taliban government and install a broad-based set-up.

Some of Afghans living in different parts of the city say that hundreds of more refugees have come to Lahore after the crisis.

Afghan refugees, who have absorbed in various fields according to expertise and skill, are keeping themselves alive to developments in their country. They also discuss the role they can and should play as the situation unfolds.

There is, however, no dearth of those who are trying to escape the public eye for fear of being expelled.

Abdul Waheed Khan, who runs a hotel in Landa Bazaar, where about 300 Afghans reside, says he has been living in Lahore since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. He regrets that another super power has attacked Afghanistan. “It is simply devastating,” he says.

He says his two younger brothers have gone back to Afghanistan to take part in a Jihad against the attacking forces.

According to him, some 200 Afghans living in the vicinity have also left the city for the war in Afghanistan. He says 50 people affected by the latest war in Afghanistan have checked in his and some other hotels.

This correspondent met new corp of terrified and upset refugees who were reluctant to reveal their identity.

Waheed, who served as an interpreter for them, said they were afraid of being expelled from the city where they had come to save their lives. At one stage, they said they had not come from Afghanistan.

According to Waheed, most of the Afghans who left for the war were “trash-pickers.” He said those who had been earning a better livelihood here might prefer to stay back.

Jan Muhammad said that he came to Lahore some three months ago. He said he took to boot-polish business since then. He said that he was in distress. “I feel helpless,” he added.

A large number of Afghans who reside near city fruit market are engaged in the business of transport. Some of them said if America dared send its ground forces to their country, they would certainly leave Pakistan for the war.

Shaukat Ali, a heftily built Afghan, said that he had his wife and children here. He said he was ready to leave his family and fight side by side with the Taliban.

This reporter visited three deras, one or two storey houses, found Afghans glued to TV sets. They were anxious to know about latest developments.

A 70-year-old head of a dera said that he was too old to leave for his country and join the Taliban in their war. He had been enthusiastically expressing his love for Osama bin Ladin. He said that he had been trying to motivate his people in the dera for fight and sacrifice.

Nabi Bakhsh, an Afghan transporter, said that he felt helpless like many other Afghans. He said that he was only 13-year-old when the Russians invaded his country. He said he had a family here and he wanted to lead a peaceful life. He apprehended that his country might not see peace in years to come.

When asked about Pakistan’s role in the ongoing war, most of them said: “We being Muslims should support the cause of Afghans.” They strongly felt that the Muslim world should unite and fight America.