Good, But Vague, News About Afghan Interpreters

On Monday, I posted about the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan and the uncertain future facing Afghani interpreters who worked on behalf of our armed forces.

Today, I’m glad to say there appears to be better news on the horizon. According to the Wall Street Journal, President Biden is committed to “conduct[ing] flights in August to relocate translators and other Afghan allies of the U.S.”

That said, details are scarce. WSJ writes:

The administration has yet to determine where translators would be moved while they await approval to enter the U.S. “It is likely to be a mix of third countries and U.S. territory,” a senior administration official said. “For now this is very much in progress.”

Among places the U.S. is considering are Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as well as Guam, officials said. The translators moved out of Afghanistan could be in those countries for years as they await a valid U.S. visa.

Officials estimated the number of Afghans who assisted the U.S. and who need to be evacuated at between 9,000 and 16,000. Advocates for the interpreters and others said they wanted additional details.

Interestingly, the Taliban has gone on the record to state that they are not targeting interpreters for retribution: “If they are using ‘danger’ as an excuse to bolster their fake asylum case, then that is their own problem and not that of the Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate.”

-KitJ