A night raid by U.S. troops 17 years ago resulted in the deaths of nearly a hundred civilians, most of whom were women and children, in Aziz Abad village, western Afghanistan's Herat Province. To this day, the villagers have not been able to overcome the grief of losing their loved ones.
Villager Gul Ahmad recounted that the village, now filled with desolate, abandoned houses, was once vibrant with laughter until that fateful night when U.S. forces dropped bombs. In that attack, he lost a total of 36 relatives.
"The U.S. invaders bombed here. This area used to belong to my uncle. This is his house. His name was Gul Jan. That concrete house belonged to my brother, Reza Khan. The bomb hit the roof of this house. The U.S. military targeted this house. They bombed from both the air and the ground. This house also belonged to my brother. Nine family members including my brother, his wife and their children, were killed here," said Gul Ahmad.
Ahmad said that in just one night, 91 people lost their lives in the U.S. raid on the village. To this day, the U.S. has not provided an explanation for that bombing, nor has anyone received compensation.
"Ninety-one people were killed in one night, including children. The commanders and soldiers responsible must be held accountable in the international court. We hope they will compensate the victims' families, as people have the right to claim compensation. They took lives and then returned to the U.S. This is not right. On the other hand, they claimed to have helped Afghanistan, but what help have they actually provided? Aside from killing and destruction, we see no assistance from the U.S. to Afghanistan," Gul Ahmad said.
On October 7, 2001, the U.S. launched the war in Afghanistan under the guise of "counter-terrorism." The military action, which lasted 20 years, not only failed to achieve its so-called goal of combating terrorism but also caused immense loss of life and property for the Afghan people, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of Afghan civilians and about 11 million becoming refugees.
Villagers tell unforgotten tragedy from U.S. raid on Afghan village
Villagers tell unforgotten tragedy from U.S. raid on Afghan village
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
