Forgiveness in Kabul

Day 7: Forgiveness in Kabul

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

Since the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in August 2021, tensions among Afghanistan’s many ethnic groups have only deepened. The nation is home to more than a dozen distinct peoples—each with its own language, traditions, and interpretation of Islam. The Taliban, largely Pashtun, have asserted dominance over the rest, reviving old divisions and resentments.

*Gedi and *Salar work together in the same office. Gedi  is Pashtun—his life deeply shaped by family loyalty, tribal expectations, and the values of his community. Like many in his culture, his decisions are guided not by personal choice but by what honors his tribe.

Salar, on the other hand, is Tajik. His people, native to Afghanistan’s mountain regions, have long resisted Taliban control. For Salar, conflict and loss are familiar companions. He has buried too many relatives and friends to count—so many that grief itself has become a distant memory.

In the office, their cultural and historical differences gradually poisoned their relationship. Jokes turned into insults, and casual questions were taken as personal attacks. Both men came from worlds where revenge was seen as the only path to restore honor or achieve justice. Each began to imagine retaliation rather than reconciliation.

Then, they encountered the teachings of Jesus Christ—and discovered another way. His words about forgiveness and peace pierced their hearts. Gedi and Salar chose to forgive one another and began working side by side, not for revenge, but for peace in their nation.

*pseudonym

HOW WE CAN PRAY

• Pray for peace and unity among Afghanistan’s ethnic groups: Ask God to heal long-standing divisions between Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks, and others, and to raise up peacemakers who can bridge deep cultural and historical divides.
• Pray for those living under Taliban rule: Many face fear, oppression, and loss of basic freedoms. Pray that God would protect the vulnerable—especially women, children, and minorities—and bring justice and mercy to their nation.
• Pray for the underground church: Believers in Afghanistan live under constant threat. Ask God to strengthen their faith, surround them with His peace, and make their quiet witness a light in the darkness.
• Pray for those who have lost hope: Years of war, poverty, and displacement have left many Afghans weary and desperate. Pray that they would encounter the living hope of Jesus and experience His comfort and renewal.
• Pray for the spread of the gospel: Despite great risks, pray that God’s Word would continue to reach hearts through dreams, radio broadcasts, online messages, and personal encounters—transforming lives and entire communities.