Interpreter With Connection To Biden From 2008 Was Left Trapped In Afghanistan And Still In Hiding
An Afghan interpreter who assisted in the 2008 rescue of then-Sen. Joe Biden and two other senators from a valley in Afghanistan were among the thousands left behind as the commander-in-chief withdrew US troops from the troubled country, handing it over to the Taliban.
On Tuesday, Mohammed, whose last name has not been released since he is still in hiding, sent a message to Joe Biden via the Wall Street Journal.
“Hello Mr. President: Save me and my family,” he said. “Don’t forget me here.”
After years of seeking to flee Afghanistan, the interpreter is now hiding from the Taliban. He and his family were among the numerous Afghan allies who were unable to flee the country by Monday evening when US soldiers concluded their final withdrawal.
The 2008 mission also saved Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was an aide to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the time. Blinken is now in charge of the diplomatic attempts to save the remaining Americans and Afghans who are in danger.
Mohammed, then a 36-year-old linguist with the US Army, accompanied a motorcade responding to the senators’ plea for assistance in 2008. According to soldiers, the group was involved in over 100 firefights in the valley.
When asked about his present fate on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said she appreciated the man’s contribution to the president’s rescue and that the US will endeavor to assist him in leaving Afghanistan.
“Our message to him is thank you for fighting by our side for the last 20 years. Thank you for the role you played in helping a number of my favorite people out of a snowstorm and for all the work you did,” Psaki said at her daily press briefing.
She added: “Our commitment is enduring — not just to American citizens, but to our Afghan partners who have fought by our side — and our efforts and our focus right now is… to the diplomatic phase. We will get you out. We will honor your service.”
Mohammed was unable to leave Afghanistan and was reportedly told at Kabul’s airport that he would be permitted to leave but not with his wife and children.
“His selfless service to our military men and women is just the kind of service I wish more Americans displayed,” In June, Lt. Col. Andrew R. Till wrote.
Army veteran Shawn O’Brien, who worked with Mohammed, in 2008, has also called on US officials to help rescue Mohammed.
“If you can only help one Afghan, choose [Mohammed],” O’Brien said, per the Wall Street Journal.
As of Tuesday, Mohammed remained in hiding, saying, “I can’t leave my house. I’m very scared.”
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