Afghanistan's first female pilot has been receiving death threats from the Taliban. In her quote, Niloofer Rahmani (Afghans Ait Force Pilot) added, 'Women should never, never watch themselves as a woman. Just see that we are human. Doesn't matter if you're a man or if you're a woman, just believe yourself and do whatever you want to do.' Now, Niloofar Rahmani is seeking asylum in the U.S. Rahmani just finished her 15 month military training in the United States. The 24 year old doesn't want to return to Afghanistan. Rahmani says she feels unsafe around her male colleagues in the Afghan Air Force who view her with 'contempt', she says. Rahmani also fears being attacked by insurgents who don't agree with women empowerment which has been one of the priorities of the U.S military presence in Afghanistan since it toppled the Taliban in 2001. In December, 5 female airport staffers in Kandahar were killed by two gunmen. Afghan military officials asked the U.S to reject Rahmani's application denying she is in any danger or that she has faced any harassment from colleagues. Rahmani was given the 'Women of Courage' award by the U.S in 2015. But the brave woman who always dreamed of being a pilot and serving her country, feels she can no longer soar in her mother country.
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