Additional Coverage:
- As a young Afghan interpreter, he helped a US officer. Then he needed help getting out (newsbreak.com)
In April, Ahmadullah Karimi quickly gathered his family’s few possessions into several suitcases, apprehensive of the crucial hours ahead. Karimi, 31, had been in Pakistan, where he along with his wife and two young children had been living for over two and a half years, anticipating their fate.
Karimi witnessed the desperate scenes at Kabul airport when U.S. troops left Afghanistan on August 30, 2021. He saw fellow Afghans clinging to military aircraft as they took flight. Having served as a U.S. military interpreter, he, like many vulnerable Afghan allies, was left behind in the chaos.
Eventually, Karimi and his family reached Pakistan. Interpreters like him were eligible for a special immigrant visa to the U.S.
After enduring years of bureaucratic delays and with significant assistance from his former boss and friend, retired U.S. Air Force Lt.
Col. Will Selber, Karimi finally secured his visa.
However, Selber knew the visa alone wasn’t a surefire escape. The risks of disappearance, death, or deportation loomed large.
Karimi feared Pakistani authorities might detain or deport him and his family back to Afghanistan, where he faced likely death due to his previous work with U.S. forces. His wife, under Taliban rule, would face severe restrictions including being barred from education beyond sixth grade.
Selber, while coordinating help from the U.S., knew the uncertainties involved. “A thousand things could go wrong,” he reflected.
Today, three years since the war ended and despite progress, numerous vulnerable Afghans remain in jeopardy. The Biden Administration has hastened the processing of immigration programs for Afghans, exceeding the number of special immigrant visas issued last year. Yet, many are still stranded due to procedural delays and the staggering number of applicants.
The Afghan Adjustment Act, which could expedite resettlement and establish a pathway to permanent residency, has not yet been passed by Congress. Meanwhile, many Afghans attempt risky journeys to the U.S. southern border or struggle to bring extended family members to safety.
Veteran groups and nonprofits continue to work tirelessly to relocate their former colleagues. Selber, having assisted many, remains committed to aiding those like Karimi. Despite the overwhelming challenges, Selber and his network’s efforts brought Karimi and his family safely to the States, fulfilling a deep-seated obligation to protect their allies.
Yet, the ongoing crisis highlights a compelling need for sustained efforts to secure the well-being of all eligible Afghan allies, exemplifying a continued moral duty long after the conflict has ceased.