SHARONVILLE, Ohio — In his Sharonville home, Amin Ahmadzai proudly showed his photos and certificates from service across his coffee table. One calls him an Afghan hero, another shows him walking feet behind NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and one of his favorites shows him translating for CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.
What You Need To Know
- The U.S. offers Special Immigrant Visas to Afghans who assisted their military
- Former military workers fear the Taliban will target them
- Ahmadzai got his visa, but is waiting for other family members to make it out
- The Taliban has promised not to retaliate against those who helped the U.S. war effort
Ahmadzai worked as an interpreter for the U.S. military for more than 10 years, earning a Special Immigrant Visa and asylum in the Cincinnati area. He moved in 2017, with his wife and children, but he’s one of the lucky ones.
Ahmadzai shows photo of him interpreting for NATO Secretary General
Many of Ahmadzai’s relatives, including his daughter and brother, are among the tens of thousands of Afghan men and women left waiting for their SIV approvals, and days after the Taliban captured the capital, Ahmadzai fears every minute they remain in Afghanistan, their safety grows more and more tenuous.
“[The Taliban] is going to follow them,” he said. “They’re going to target them and detain them.”
Ahmadzai said throughout his time working with the U.S. military he was always a target for Taliban insurgents. He’s seen them bomb his convey, attack the base near his home, he’s known many fellow Afghans who were killed after working or meeting with the Army.
Ahmadzai receives a certificate from the army commending him for his service
That’s why with the Taliban back in power, Ahmadzai believes it’s more urgent than ever for the government to work through those SIVs.
“People are scared, especially those, especially, especially those who worked for American military,” he said.
Many, including Ahmadzai’s brother, have been waiting for their visas for years. Ahmadzai said even his took years to process, despite a half dozen letters of recommendation from soldiers and documentation from 10 years of service.
“I have a medal from U.S. military,” he said.
The Taliban has said publicly that the group is offering amnesty to those who worked with the U.S. military though Ahmadzai said reports of Taliban soldiers going door to door in Kabul have left him skeptical.
“You know, there is a difference between action and just promises,” he said. “And the action, we don’t believe that and especially people of Afghanistan, I don’t think they will believe that.”
Ahmadzai said he’s in touch with his family as often as he can be and has been instructing them not to stay in any one place for more than a few days. He’s working with a few refugee resettlement groups, including Heartfelt Tidbits, to ensure someone is looking out for them, but he said every moment he doesn’t hear from them, he fears the worst.
“When my family members, especially my daughter and my brothers, come to my memory I cannot stop my tears,” he said. “We are human.”
Ahmadzai said he trusts the U.S. military will eventually approve their evacuation, but it’s difficult to be patient. After working for the military for more than a decade, he hopes his loyalty will keep his family safe.
“American armies know how we support them, how we help them out,” he said. “But again, I want them to take care of our families.”
