Former US soldier: The Afghans I trained are now fighting with Putin in Ukraine

Thomas Casa identified himself as a soldier in the US Special Forces (Green Berets) in Iraq and Afghanistan, and is now in the National Guard and owner of the 1208 Foundation to provide humanitarian aid.

In an article in the New York Times, he said that his division was specialized in training and fighting alongside indigenous forces.

Since the hasty departure of US forces from Afghanistan, and the lack of meaningful government support for the nonprofits that have worked to help former allies, Casa says many highly trained commandos have accepted offers of enlistment to fight with the Russian army in Ukraine.

The writer estimated the number of Afghans trained by the Americans at between 20,000 and 30,000 men, indicating that they would find it very difficult to refuse any means that would enable them to obtain a monthly salary and a promise of housing from the Taliban government, even if the return was to fight.

Casa recommended the new Congress - as it intends to investigate the catastrophic withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan - not to be limited to the period leading up to the tragic days of August 2021 when the Taliban invaded Kabul, but rather, in his opinion, that the investigation should expand to include what is happening now in Afghanistan and what happened In the aftermath of their victory, including the suffering of those who protected the American forces from persecution.

Although Putin promises to provide incentives to these Afghans if they fight for Russia, such as improving the living conditions of their families, by making them receive $1,500 and granting them Russian citizenship, this is nothing compared to the fate that awaits them as they are deployed on the front lines in Donbass, where They are being torn apart by the same American-made weapons that once supported them in combat.

These Afghan commandos who are fighting for Russia cannot be blamed for their survival, according to the writer, noting that what Putin is doing in this regard is a smart and cunning move, as it increases the fighting strength of his soldiers on the front lines of the war without risking the lives of the Russians.

Casa hopes - in the conclusion of his article - that Congress can heal its moral wounds as best it can by fulfilling the promises the United States made to those who fought on its behalf.

And he believes that this is the least that can be done, because if Washington fails to secure hope for its allies, someone like Putin will be ready to replace it.