US evacuates Afghan interpreter who saved Biden in Afghanistan in 2008

• Published date: 12 October 2021
• Author: JERUSALEM POST STAFF
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The interpreter, identified as Aman Kahlili, was rescued from Afghanistan by the US State Department and the NGO Human First Coalition and taken to Pakistan alongside his family, with the cooperation of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, the coalition told CNN, confirming news first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

In 2008, a snowstorm forced then-senator Biden, accompanied in a helicopter by then-senators Chuck Hagel and John Kerry and their respective aides, to make an emergency landing in the Afghan mountains.

Now, 13 years later, Khalili had put a call out to Biden to return the favor and save him, giving an anonymous (he was identified only as Mohammed) plea to the WSJ in August.

As an Afghan who worked for the US Army as an interpreter during the 20-year military presence in Afghanistan, Khalili was technically entitled to a Special Immigrant Visa to leave the country. However, while he was allowed into the Kabul Airport, his visa was, like many others, stuck in processing, according to the WSJ. This itself isn't too surprising, as the evacuation process has been widely criticized for being frantic and disorganized.

But it was also a matter of urgency, as despite the Taliban vowing not to harm any Afghans who had worked with foreign armies, many interpreters still feared for their safety. Back in May, 32-year-old Sohail Pardis was reportedly beheaded by the Taliban for his short 16-month stint as a US Army translator nearly a decade ago. Pardis had been fired from his job in the army and was therefore unable to qualify for a Special Immigrant Visa.

"They were telling him you are a spy for the Americans, you are the...