A Manitoba resident who has spent the last 40 years working with the Afghan people is devastated by the news coming out of Afghanistan right now.

Arley Loewen has a Master's degree in Persian Language and a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern Civilization. The Bluemenort man says he has worked with Afghans in the civil society sector, in academics, and with the fledgling Afghan church for decades now.

"I am also currently the director of a media and training project for the people of Afghanistan. We've lived in Afghanistan where I started a publishing project there as well and we published many books for children, value-based books, cultural books, and leadership books until yesterday basically."

Since moving out of Afghanistan in 2007, Loewen says he has travelled back at least once a year and is in contact with friends and colleagues in the country on a regular basis.

Listen: What Christians are facing in Afghanistan and how you can help

With the US military leaving Afghanistan, and the Taliban quickly seizing control over the last few days, he notes there has been utter dismay, chaos and confusion, but amazingly quiet and peace in the following days, with no bloodshed or destruction.

"It was just absolutely shocking, shattering, heartbreaking, devastating, any word that you can imagine." He adds, “Even conservative Muslims were shocked. The women, the media community, the educational community, and then the small Christian minority, are all in shock and trauma. Basically, much of the Afghan community, across the board, feels utterly betrayed by what the USA military powers did."

Though there are many facets within the Taliban, Loewen says but one thing they have in common is a desire to implement a strict and conservative interpretation of Sharia Law.

Loewen says there is a lot of confusion right now as the Taliban are giving out peaceful messages. He notes on one hand they say there will be amnesty for those that fought against them and they have expressed a desire to work with the international community, but on the other hand, they have opened prisons.

"There was a video clip where hundreds of prisoners were now running across the street, criminals, bandits, Al Qaeda, and terrorists and Talibs and whoever. They are all freed."

In some areas, Loewen says they have heard of the Taliban going door to door and searching people’s homes.

"The first days it was utter panic, though almost no criminal activity. On Tuesday (Aug 17), the Taliban held a news conference and announced amnesty to all who worked with the former government. But people don't know what the future will hold. Will it be a fundamentalist Sharia Law, or will it be some kind of transitional rule?"

The Connections podcast: real life, real faith

Loewen says even relative peace may be misleading.

"When the Taliban took over in 1996, that was also a swift sweep through Afghanistan. They took over chaos and destruction and implemented a strict oppressive regime; yet there was a sense of peace. I remember talking to several Taliban during that time and they asked me 'what do you think of the Taliban?' and I said, 'you put half of your people in prison,' meaning women and then they said, 'Afghanistan is peace and quiet,' and then I said, 'well so is a cemetery."

Alongside helping Afghans that worked with Canadian troupes escape the country, Loewen says the Canadian federal government announced they will help 20,000 vulnerable Afghans leave. The announcement says this includes women's and human rights activists, the gay community, and religious minorities.

"What does this mean? We are talking with MCC and I hope that somehow, we can help the doubly vulnerable. So many are vulnerable, the women, the children, and so forth, but Christians are doubly vulnerable because are also in civil society, they have also tasted freedom, but they have all come from a Muslim background and they are following Jesus now."

In addition, Loewen says they lead a small team that includes over a dozen Afghans and as a team, they are trying to help each other cope with the real pain, betrayal, and trauma they are experiencing.

Loewen says they wonder what the future holds.