Military member seeks help for former translator desperate to evacuate Afghanistan

KABUL, AFGANISTAN — A Suffolk University graduate who served in the military in Afghanistan is trying to help his former translator evacuate the country. Boston 25 News is not identifying the military member or his translator for safety and privacy reasons.

In a Zoom interview, his translator explained that he was hiding in Kabul trying to evade the Taliban.

“If they find me, they will take their revenge. That is very, very simple for them,” he explained.

He added that the Taliban is now retaliating against translators who are actively seeking refuge.

“The Taliban tried not to allow people, especially translators, to go to the airport. And today as you’re aware or not, they shot at people who were working with the Australian forces. I think the one who got shot is one of the Australian translators who was going to the airport to be evacuated.”

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The 31-year-old said he is also fearful that his personal information is now in the hands of the Taliban, who have taken over government buildings.

“When I was working for the Australian embassy, we went to the Ministry of Interior, we had a checkup there for security, and I saw there that there was my details,” the translator said. “That it’s saying that it’s this person was working as a translator. So everything is in the hands of the Taliban right now. They know that these people were working with them.”

Without a passport, the translator said he is struggling to get his Special Immigrant Visa, or SIV, pushed through. The State Department announced on Tuesday that they are doing everything possible to assist with evacuation assistance.

“We remain committed to accelerating flights for SIVs and other vulnerable Afghans as quickly as possible,” said Ned Price, a department spokesperson during a press briefing.

Over the phone, Boston 25 was told by a State Department representative that they were not allowed to comment on individual cases, but the situation remains fluid.

“I just hope to get out of Afghanistan. It doesn’t matter where. It doesn’t matter where because I have little kids and my big worry is about their lives,” the translator said.

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