Hyderabad, Aug. 16 -- On August 15, Noor Mohammed (29) had experienced what an independence day celebration in India felt like. Having settled here as a refugee from Afghanistan, it perhaps gave him a sense of belonging in Hyderabad, where he has been living since five years.

However, never in his life did he think that his happiness in Hyderabad would be usurped by intense sadness. As he celebrated India's independence day, Noor began reading devastating news of the Taliban taking over Afghanistan on Sunday. A native of Mazar-i-Sharif city, it was particularly tougher for Noor as he had served in the Afghan police once and then fled his homeland due to a threat from the Taliban.

"I don't know what is even happening in my own hometown f...