Few people aspire to “be the change you want to see in the world” as the iconic Mahatma Gandhi said, encouraging ordinary people to do extraordinary things. But Afghan-American Atiqualla Rahin, is making a difference by sharing his knowledge of the Afghan culture and his language expertise with NATO-led coalition forces working to improve the legal system in southern Afghanistan.
“You’ve got to think from your heart, not from your brain,” said Rahin.
Rahin is assigned to work for Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team and works with the Rule of Law section to help further solidify a civil legal system that detains those waiting to be tried for alleged crimes in Afghan courts.
“The efforts here to help Afghanistan to establish a fair and just legal system is taking time, but is benefiting from the influx of experts and professionals from NATO partners to share best practices with Afghans,” said U.S. Marine Chief Warrant Officer Bruce Johnson, rule of law officer at Helmand PRT.
As a native-born Afghan, Rahin’s first trip back to his homeland was made early 2009 as a contracted employee for Worldwide Language Services. His two week stint served as a baseline to assess the change in Afghanistan from the 1980s to post-9/11. Starting November 2009, Rahin returned to Afghanistan for a longer work assignment with Helmand PRT and he has seen some changes with as to how Afghan nationals and civilian-military cooperative efforts are managed, especially with regards to establishing governance processes.
“He has been invaluable as a linguist and cultural advisor and has taken the time to teach me the Pashto language enabling me to have limited conversations with our Afghan partners,” Johnson said. “He even wrote a justice-related phrase guide to help me in my efforts.”
The U.K.-led multinational Provincial Reconstruction Team in Helmand helps the Afghan government deliver governance and security across the province. The Rule of Law Section, where Atiqullah works, is specifically aimed to help establish an Afghan-led civil justice system, which includes courthouses, detention centers and Afghan government employees to run such facilities and programs.
“There’s a mental change; the PRT is trying to help and are showing Afghans how to establish a government system instead of doing it for them,” Rahin said. “Everything is changing here.”
Rahin lived in Kabul with his family until he was 19 years old. As a young man attending Kabul University, he remembers when faculty went on strike and classes were closed down during the Soviet invasion and occupation in the 1980’s. Eventually, Rahin moved to New Jersey and received a soccer scholarship to attend City College of New York and studied civil engineering. While in school, he also helped support his brother who was studying in the U.S. to become a doctor.
“The first car my brother ever owned was a car that I bought for him,” Rahin said.
Choosing to serve his family over his own desires, Rahin quit school to help his brothers and sisters who moved from Afghanistan to the U.S. He also helped keep the U.S.-Afghan community connected through the world of soccer and was on the board for the Afghan-American Sports Association.
“I wanted to see what I could do as an American citizen and help others in Afghanistan,” Rahin explained.
Rahin’s work ethic and understanding of the Afghan culture has made an impression in how civil-military teams partner with the Afghan government to build and refurbish detention centers throughout central Helmand.
“We are very lucky to have a man like Atiqullah working with us,” Johnson said. “He is making a difference and helping us connect with Afghans in a manner that would not be possible without his presence on our team.”