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US evacuates Afghan interpreter who saved Biden in Afghanistan in 2008
Aman Khalili rescued then-senator Joe Biden when a snowstorm forced him to land in the mountains 13 years ago. Now, the Biden administration has returned the favor.
Politics
An Afghan interpreter who helped save US President Joe Biden in Afghanistan 13 years ago was successfully evacuated from the country along with his family after seeking to leave following the Taliban takeover, CNN reported Monday.
The interpreter, identified as Aman Kahlili, was rescued from Afghanistan by the US State Department and the NGO Human First Coalition and taken to Pakistan alongside his family, with the cooperation of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, the coalition told CNN, confirming news first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
In 2008, a snowstorm forced then-senator Biden, accompanied in a helicopter by then-senators Chuck Hagel and John Kerry and their respective aides, to make an emergency landing in the Afghan mountains.
Now, 13 years later, Khalili had put a call out to Biden to return the favor and save him, giving an anonymous (he was identified only as Mohammed) plea to the WSJ in August.
As an Afghan who worked for the US Army as an interpreter during the 20-year military presence in Afghanistan, Khalili was technically entitled to a Special Immigrant Visa to leave the country. However, while he was allowed into the Kabul Airport, his visa was, like many others, stuck in processing, according to the WSJ. This itself isn't too surprising, as the evacuation process has been widely criticized for being frantic and disorganized.
Now, 13 years later, Khalili had put a call out to Biden to return the favor and save him, giving an anonymous (he was identified only as Mohammed) plea to the WSJ in August.
As an Afghan who worked for the US Army as an interpreter during the 20-year military presence in Afghanistan, Khalili was technically entitled to a Special Immigrant Visa to leave the country. However, while he was allowed into the Kabul Airport, his visa was, like many others, stuck in processing, according to the WSJ. This itself isn't too surprising, as the evacuation process has been widely criticized for being frantic and disorganized.