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An Afghan refugee on his first year in San Antonio: 'Physically I'm here. But mentally, I'm there.'

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FILE PHOTO: Evacuees from Afghanistan board a military aircraft during an evacuation from Kabul, in this photo taken on August 19, 2021 at undisclosed location and released on August 20, 2021. Staff Sgt. Brandon Cribelar/U.S. Marine Corps/Handout?via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY./File Photo
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The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan one year ago forced tens of thousands of people to flee the country. Some of those refugees have resettled in San Antonio. Hear a snapshot from one of their lives.

Bilal is an Afghan refugee who came to San Antonio last year after the Taliban seized Kabul. He’s a new father and wheelchair athlete who worked for a human rights organization in his home country. Bilal spoke to TPR about the challenges of adjusting to life in the U.S. – and his dreams for the future.

We're withholding his full name because he fears for his relatives’ safety in Afghanistan.

Sound engineer Jacob Rosati helped produce this audio postcard.

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Carson Frame was Texas Public Radio's military and veterans' issues reporter from July 2017 until March 2024.