Mica Rosenberg. Jonathan Landay. James Mackenzie.

KABUL, Afghanistan (Reuters] – A boy who was sold in desperate need to a soldier crossing an airport wall during the American evacuation in Afghanistan is now found. He has been reunited in Kabul with his relatives on Saturday.

Sohail Ahmadi, a baby of two months, disappeared in August, when thousands fled Afghanistan after it was overthrown by the Taliban.

Following an exclusive Reuters story https://www.reuters.com/world/exclusive-baby-handed-us-soldiers-chaos-afghanistan-airlift-still-missing-2021-11-05 published in November with his pictures, the baby was located in Kabul where a 29-year-old taxi driver named Hamid Safi had found him in the airport and took him home to raise as his own.

After seven weeks of negotiation and pleas and a short detention by Taliban police officers, Safi eventually handed the child to his grandfather, who was a jubilant, as well as other Kabul relatives.

The family stated that they will now try to reunite him with his siblings and parents, who fled to America months ago.

Mirza Ali Ahmadi, the father of the boy and a U.S. Embassy security guard, feared that their son would be crushed as they approached the airport gates to board a flight to America.

Ahmadi said to Reuters that in November, in desperate times, he gave Sohail the airport wall over to a soldier in uniform who he thought was an American. He fully expected him to make it to the entrance within 5 meters.

At that instant, Taliban forces drove the crowd back. Ahmadi and his wife, along with their four children, would take another 30 minutes to gain entry.

The baby had vanished by that time.

Ahmadi claimed that he tried desperately to locate his son in the airport. Officials told Ahmadi that the boy had probably been separated from the rest of the country and that they could reunite later.

All of their family members were evacuated, and they eventually found themselves at an American military base. They didn’t know where their son was for months.

The case highlights the plight of many parents separated from their children https://www.reuters.com/world/when-are-my-parents-coming-1300-afghan-children-evacuated-us-limbo-2021-11-10 during the hasty evacuation effort and withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country after a 20-year war.

Afghan refugees are having difficulty getting information about the possible timing or feasibility of complicated reunifications, despite there not being an American embassy in Afghanistan.

Requests for comments from the U.S. Department of Defense (State Department) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) were not answered on Saturday.

ALONE AT THE AIRPORT

Ahmadi, his family and their baby were separated on the same day. Safi, who had given a ride for his brother’s family set to leave Kabul Airport gates, made it through.

Safi claimed that he saw Sohail crying alone on the ground. Safi said that he had unsuccessfully attempted to locate Sohail’s parents, and decided to return the infant to his children with his wife. Safi, who has three children of his own, said that his mother was most grateful to him for having a child.

At that point, he said: “I will keep this baby. I’ll give him to his family if he is not found. In the event that he is not found, I will take him to my parents,” he said in a late November interview.

Safi said to Reuters that he brought the baby to the doctor after he was discovered. He also quickly incorporated him into his family. The baby was called Mohammad Abed by them and they posted photos of the entire family on their Facebook page (NASDAQ:).

After the Reuters report about the child missing emerged, Safi’s neighbours – who noticed him returning from the airport with a baby months before – saw the photos and made comments on a translation of the article.

Ahmadi asked his Afghan relatives, including Mohammad Qasem Razawi 67 (northern province of Badakhshan), to contact Safi and request that he return Sohail back to his family.

Razawi stated that he traveled to the capital two days and two night carrying gifts, including a killed sheep and several pounds of walnuts as well as clothing for Safi.

Safi insisted on Sohail’s release, saying that he would also like to leave Afghanistan with his loved ones. Safi’s brother was also evacuated to California. He said that Safi and his relatives have not submitted any pending U.S. Entry applications.

A family that was expecting the child sought aid from the Red Cross. Although the Red Cross claims it has a mission to assist people who are separated from their families by international crisis, the Red Cross said they had received very little information. Red Cross spokeswoman said they do not provide information on each case.

Razawi finally reached out to the Taliban police after they felt that there were no other options. Reuters heard from Safi, who said he denies the claims to police. He claimed he cared for the baby and not kidnapped him.

The local police chief told Reuters that he assisted in arranging a settlement. This included an agreement with thumbprints signed by both parties. Razawi claimed that Safi’s family agreed to reimburse him around 100,000 Afghani ($950), due to the five-month care he received.

Hamid Malang (chief area controller at the local police station) said that the grandfather who had the baby complained to them and they found Hamid. Based on evidence, the infant was recognized. He said that the grandfather will receive the baby if both parties are in agreement.

The police were present and the baby was cried out. Finally, the child was returned to his parents.

Razawi reported that Sohail was the loss of Safi, his wife and their family. “Hamid, his wife, were crying. But I was there for them. Allah will bless you with a male child. I didn’t say one. Razawi stated, “I thanked them both for saving my child from the airport.”

Reuters reported that the parents were delighted to have been able, via video chat, to witness their baby’s reunion.

    “There are celebrations, dance, singing,” said Razawi. It is very similar to a wedding.

Ahmadi, his wife, and the other children were able, in December, to leave the military base to resettle in a Michigan apartment. They hope that Sohail will be able to come to America soon.

“We must return the baby to his mother or father.” His grandfather stated that this is his only responsibility. His grandfather said, “My only wish is for him to return to them.”