1/9 Many U.S. allies remain trapped in Afghanistan—today, the Taliban said it would prevent citizens from leaving. Those who’ve managed to escape have not had an easy journey. George Packer describes the logistical—and lethal—challenges these Afghans face: theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
2/9 Khan, an interpreter for U.S. forces since 2015, worked desperately to leave Afghanistan with his pregnant wife and young son. For years, the family waited for approval of their Special Immigrant Visa, which came just as the Afghan government began to fall to the Taliban.
3/9 Before the U.S. withdrawal began, Khan was wary of how the Taliban would respond to the departure of American troops. They “will walk with their weapons to the bazaar,” he told Packer in March, “they will search people’s houses night and day.” theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
4/9 As an American ally, Khan has received many death threats from the Taliban. His brother, who spent 12 years working for the U.S., was murdered by Taliban fighters in January. “Your destiny will be like your brother-in-law’s,” he was threatened in May. theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
5/9 In July, after Khan and his family’s visas were finally approved, they quickly began to schedule their departure from Afghanistan. Then luck turned against them. Kabul fell to the Taliban on August 15. theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
6/9 The Khan family, like many others, tried to escape. They waited at the airport without food or water for hours in the heat. Khan’s pregnant wife was pushed to the ground. Still, they planned to remain there until they got out or died. theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
7/9 Finally, on their third attempt to flee—with only their documents, the clothes on their back, and some food—Khan and his family reached the American gate as the crowd scattered after a burst of gunfire. Their visas were approved. They were inside. theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
8/9 The ordeal didn’t end inside the Kabul airport. After a chaotic trip through Qatar, Khan and his family eventually made it to America. “It was the first day and the first time that me and my family slept well during the last six years,” he told Packer theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
9/9 Khan’s situation is unique. A visa like his remains the only way onto a U.S. government flight—and even that is useless without the ability to reach a checkpoint, Packer writes. Many other Afghan allies are not as lucky. theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
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