US govt planning evacuation of Afghan interpreters

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Defense Department and the State Department are drawing up plans for the possible evacuation of Afghans whose lives are in danger because of their work for the US government, media reported quoted  US military’s top officer as saying.

Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said it was clear that a “significant” number of Afghans who worked as interpreters or in other roles for the American military or the US Embassy face potential retribution by the Taliban, the NBC News said.

“Their safety could be at risk. And we recognize that that’s a very important task, is to ensure that we remain faithful to them and that we do what’s necessary to ensure their protection and, if necessary, get them out of the country if that’s what they want to do,” Milley told reporters aboard his plane after he delivered a commencement address Wednesday at the Air Force Academy in Colorado.

The State Department is overseeing the issue, Milley said in remarks his office released Thursday.

“There are plans being developed very, very rapidly here, not just interpreters but a lot of other people that have worked with the United States,” he said.

It was the first time any senior figure in the administration has confirmed publicly that a possible evacuation was under consideration or that contingency planning for an evacuation was underway.

nh