At the beginning of 2020, Afghan National Army cadet Baz Mohammad Watandoost was looking forward to graduating from Australia’s Royal Military College, Duntroon, and joining the fight in his homeland.
The graduation ceremony has now been and gone, and like many others affected by coronavirus travel restrictions, he cannot return to Afghanistan.
He's currently in isolation at the Canberra academy where he's been stationed for the past 18 months.
“Obviously you feel homesick when you’re away from your country,” he tells SBS Pashto.
“I’m counting the minutes to go back.”
Due to the ongoing conflict, serving in the military in Afghanistan is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.
The Taliban currently controls a portion of the country and militant group IS remains active in some regions.
The at a Kabul hospital is a reminder of the dangers faced by soldiers in the national guard.
The violence is something Mr Watandoost is wary of, but his desire to serve helps him overcome his reservations.
“It’s not an easy job to serve your country as someone in uniform, in particular, to be part of the Afghan National Army.
“But I have faith in the training I have had and in myself that I am able to serve my country.”
He is one of two Afghan cadets to complete the Australian Regular Army Officer Commissioning Course at the academy in 2020.
Afghan cadets Baz Mohammad Watandoost and Siavash Saduqi at their graduation ceremony on April 28. Source: Supplied
They were selected from 150 other cadets to join the course, which is sponsored by the Australian Department of Defence under the Defence Cooperation Program.
The program is intended to “foster closer relationships between nations and to increase the capability and professionalism of participating forces,” a defence spokesperson told SBS Pashto.
Mr Watandoost says graduating from "one of the best military schools in the world" was a life highlight.
“[I'm proud] to return to my country and serve my people. If I am able to take this skill to Afghanistan, I think I have done something very useful for my country.
“Because an army officer fights against the enemy with their plan and strategy.”
Afghanistan’s health system has been crippled by decades of war, making it particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus pandemic.
The country has also been in political turmoil following the 2019 general election, as the main opposition leader Dr Abdullah Abdullah rejected the result which announced sitting president Ashraf Ghani as the winner.
Being away from his family during these uncertain times has been difficult for Mr Watandoost.
“I’m concerned about my family, about my country and about the people, we in Afghanistan don’t just have the issue with coronavirus…there are issues like economic, political and many other issues."
He’s very grateful to his teachers and classmates in Australia who not only helped him advance his military knowledge but also provided him with some good memories to take back.
“Because of the training I have obtained in this college I feel stronger than before,” he says.
“I say to my teachers thank you for teaching me.
“I will take these good memories back to Afghanistan, I will share them with my friends over there and those memories will live with me until the end of my life.”
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