Life experiences of individuals in Afghanistan have deteriorated significantly four years after the Taliban's regain of power.
In the aftermath of the Taliban takeover in August 2021, the current situation for former Afghan military personnel and interpreters who worked with the U.S. remains precarious, particularly for those who were injured or disabled.
Fariba, a woman in Afghanistan, has been forced to sell off her household items to get by, as her daughter is no longer attending school due to bullying and being followed by rank-and-file Taliban. Her husband, the head of security for one of the ministries under the U.S.-backed government, was killed by Taliban forces. Despite her husband working under the Taliban for several months before his death, the Taliban taunted her, saying they had killed him.
Shokoor, a 30-year-old Afghan man, lost both his legs in a Taliban attack due to his work with the Americans. He has moved his family multiple times due to Taliban threats and now works repairing shoes to make a living. The Taliban still ask for Shokoor, which is why his first name is being used for his safety.
Richard Bennett, the U.N.'s special rapporteur for human rights in Afghanistan, claims the Taliban has not followed through on their promise of general amnesty for members of the old republic. Bennett reports that those who worked with the Americans can be hunted down, detained arbitrarily, ill-treated, including being tortured, and some are killed.
The Trump administration ended temporary protected status for tens of thousands of Afghans who fled to the U.S. when the Taliban returned to power four years ago. However, the White House spokesperson, Anna Kelly, stated that the Trump administration remains committed to protecting those who supported their mission in Afghanistan while ensuring rigorous security standards.
The Taliban's persecution of former Afghan allies includes targeted door-to-door searches for collaborators with U.S. and NATO forces. Many injured or disabled individuals face ongoing threats and persecution, creating an urgent need for safe resettlement or protection.
However, many face difficulty in accessing timely evacuations and visa processing, causing them to remain in dangerous conditions for extended periods. In addition, legal and bureaucratic hurdles in the U.S., including deportation risks faced by some interpreters despite their service, further complicate matters.
In the U.S. and allied countries, some efforts exist to provide support, including housing, legal assistance, and healthcare. However, these are uneven and depend heavily on advocacy, non-governmental organizations, and veterans' groups pushing for reforms. Those who are disabled may face additional challenges due to limited specialized care resources and integration difficulties in host countries.
Advocacy for reform and improved treatment continues among veterans, refugee organizations, and some policymakers. Unfortunately, the Taliban government did not respond to NPR's request for comment.
[1] Human Rights Watch, "Afghanistan: Taliban Abuses and Discrimination Against Women and Girls," 2021. [2] Amnesty International, "Afghanistan: Taliban's Disregard for Human Rights," 2021. [3] United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, "Afghanistan Refugees: A Crisis in the Making," 2021. [4] International Rescue Committee, "Afghanistan: The Plight of Interpreters and Their Families," 2021. [5] U.S. Department of State, "Afghanistan: Special Immigrant Visa Program," 2021.
- The precarious situation faced by former Afghan military personnel and interpreters, who worked with the U.S., is exacerbated by war-and-conflicts, with the Taliban government not following through on their promise of general amnesty, as reported by Richard Bennett, the U.N.'s special rapporteur for human rights in Afghanistan.
- In political and general-news reports, the Taliban's persecution of former Afghan allies includes targeted door-to-door searches, arbitrary detainment, ill-treatment, torture, and even killings of those who collaborated with U.S. and NATO forces.
- Crime-and-justice organizations, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have issued reports on the ongoing threats and persecution of injured or disabled former Afghan military personnel and interpreters, creating an urgent need for safe resettlement or protection.
