Afghanistan: mobilization of former US army interpreters
Audio 01:17
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul says it has received nearly 18,000 pending visa applications, including hundreds that were lodged by former Afghan employees at U.S. bases (illustrative image).
AP - Rahmat Gul
Text by: RFI Follow
5 mins
They were between 150 and 200 former Afghan interpreters of the American army gathered this Thursday, June 10 in a gymnasium in Kabul to alert on their fate while the American troops are gradually leaving Afghanistan.
The total withdrawal of American soldiers would have even been brought forward to July instead of September.
ALBA, Afghans Left Behind Association - The Association of Abandoned Afghans, which has nearly 500 members, calls on the United States to evacuate former interpreters and employees of the American forces in Afghanistan for fear of retaliation from the Taliban.
The latter assured in a statement Monday that they would do them no harm if they repent.
A statement in which the ex-interpreters of the foreign armies in Afghanistan do not grant any confidence.
Publicity
Read more
With our correspondent in Kabul,
Sonia Ghezali
"
Joe Biden help us
", "
Guys, we have helped you
", "
It's your turn
".
Some ex-performers have concealed their faces behind sunglasses and shawls.
Everyone here worked for the United States military and had their visa applications for the United States turned down.
"
Once the American and NATO troops leave Afghanistan, I am sure the government will collapse in the face of the Taliban,"
says Omid Mahmoodi.
We are asking the US government, please, initiate an evacuation plan as quickly as possible. They have to at least send us to a third country. We ask to be safe, to be protected.
"
Omid Mahmoodi is one of the members of the Association of abandoned Afghans at the origin of the mobilization, he was an interpreter for the American army in Kandahar, the cradle of the Taliban: “
For the Taliban, we are traitors, traitors to Islam.
The Taliban call us "infidels".
They say we are spies.
The performers were the eyes and ears of the US military.
That's why they come after us.
"
► To read also: The Taliban ask the former Afghan interpreters to express "remorse"
Abdul Rashid was a translator for 5 years for the Seals, the main special force of the United States Navy.
His contract was interrupted and this is the reason for the rejection of his visa application.
“
The biggest problem is when we were made redundant
,” he says.
When you apply for a visa, it is systematically rejected.
We are raising our voices so that the government, the US Congress, will hear us and get us out of there, not leave us behind
.
"
The United States Embassy in Kabul says it has received nearly 18,000 pending visa applications, including hundreds that were lodged by former Afghan employees at US bases.
On Thursday evening, US Chief of Staff General Mark Milley said, "
I can assure you that the US government will do whatever is necessary to ensure the safety and protection of those who have cooperated with us for two decades.
" .
The highest American officer was questioned in Congress on this "
moral duty
" of the United States towards these Afghan interpreters.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Afghanistan
Taliban
United States