Open Letter to my friends & colleagues at Tolo TV <3

Dear Colleagues.

Though I have been away from Afghanistan for months now, the memory of my time working with you all remains bright in my mind and heart. Like all of you, I was devastated last week to hear of the attack on our comrades as they came home from work.

I worked closely with Jawed, Hussein and Mehri jan during my time at Tolo and cannot believe that they are no longer with us. And while relieved, I am still saddened to think that good friends like Abouzar jan will bear wounds from the attack for the rest of his life.

Terror has finally visited the one company that has worked hardest to return light back to Afghanistan. We all knew this day could someday come for us but it is now that Afghanistan needs you and Tolo the most.

Jawed, Hussein, Mehri and all the rest of our friends killed and injured in last week’s attack dedicated themselves to bringing joy, laughter and happiness into the homes of Afghans throughout the country – irrespective of their ethnicity or religious affiliation. The best way to pay tribute to their lives is for you to continue their work, to keep going. Always forwards, never backwards – no matter what.

The Taliban, ISIS and Al-Qaeda wish to terrorize us. Strike fear and anguish into your hearts with this attack. You must reject this. Change your Facebook profiles from those black squares of despair and blood – I urge you to deny the Taliban the sick satisfaction of your grief.

Instead proudly display the faces of your beloved friends or Tolo’s logo – unbent, unbowed and unbroken on your social media profiles. And put up the pictures of our martyrs up on the walls of our TV station, so that no one will ever forget the names of our friends or their sacrifice.

You are stronger than the Taliban may have the time, they may have their bombs and guns – but you have the hopes and dreams of the entire nation behind you. They may wound you again and again but in the end they can only win if you give up. Never give up.

Keep going my dear friends, working with you all at Tolo TV was and forever will be a privilege and an honor. I wish I was there to share your grief, celebrate the lives of our comrades and take care of our wounded. But I am not far, I will always stand with you – and you can contact me whenever you wish.

God bless you all, God bless Tolo TV and God Bless Afghanistan. <3

– Waise