I have been reporting on the delays and dangers to Afghan translators as the United States withdraws from Afghanistan and the Taliban takes over more and more countries. It’s not just about keeping promises to those who risk their lives to help us, but if we have to conflict in any future conflicts, it’s also about having any credibility. If we don’t keep our promises, who will help us?
Indeed, in May, I Say The window for Biden to take action to let people leave safely is closing, otherwise we will see more people being killed by the Taliban, because they are now facing death threats because they have done so much for us in Afghanistan.
Unfortunately, this is correct.
It was reported today that a 32-year-old Sohail Pardis, a man who worked as an interpreter in the US Army, was killed by the Taliban.
🇦🇫 In Afghanistan, the American translator Sohail Pardis was beheaded.#Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/Tm9OKAbuQa
-War Crimes (@warcrimex) July 24, 2021
This actually happened in May, when the situation in the country was already bad enough. The situation has gotten worse since then, but only now is the news of his death reported.
Pardis was stopped at the Taliban checkpoint while driving to see his sister. He has been threatened by the Taliban in the past because he has worked in the United States for 16 months.
The Taliban fired at his car, pulled him out, and then beheaded him. He left a nine-year-old daughter and other family members who were worried about their lives.
“They told him that you are an American spy, you are the eyes of the Americans, and you are a heretic, we will kill you and your family,” his friend and translator and colleague Abdulhak Ayou Than say. Ayoubi and Pardis were unable to obtain SIV, and Ayoubi asked Joe Biden to help resolve the situation. “We implore President Biden to save us. We have helped you, and you must help us.”
There are still more than 18,000 people working in the United States and are still waiting for special immigrant visa status.
Joe Biden Announced earlier this week They will house approximately 2500 people (700 Afghan interpreters and their families) at Fort Lee military base in Virginia for a few days until their SIV is finalized.
But action was not taken until the end of this month, and it is not clear where the other 18,000 people and their families are going. These people are not that far in the SIV process. The Pentagon stated that they are looking for third-party countries to settle people until they pass the SIV process, but have not yet decided on the location.
As the United States plans to leave the country completely at the end of next month, Biden kept this situation to the last minute almost at the last minute, which seems crazy. According to reports, with the withdrawal of the United States, the Taliban have now occupied most of the country. So it may be difficult to get people out now. For people like Sohail Pardis, it’s too late.
