Betrayal and Regret in Afghanistan’s Wartime Allies

The sun had barely risen over Kabul when Abdul Wahid received his first phone call from an American officer on September 10, 2001. The US was already planning its response to al-Qaeda, and Wahid’s voice was among the first in a long line of Afghans who would soon be helping America bring down its enemy.

Wahid, then 25, had lost family members to the brutal Taliban regime and was desperate to see an end to their rule. As a member of the Afghan National Army’s reserve forces, he had already been approached by CIA agents secretly funding groups opposed to the Taliban. When the Americans launched Operation Enduring Freedom in October 2001, Wahid saw it as his chance to contribute to Afghanistan’s liberation.

As US troops poured into Afghanistan, thousands of Afghans like Wahid flocked to join them. Some sought revenge against al-Qaeda; others wanted to overthrow the Taliban and establish a more democratic government. Many believed America could be their savior from decades of strife – but they would soon learn that helping the US came with consequences.

The initial promise of US involvement was intoxicating for many Afghans, who envisioned an end to years of isolation and billions of dollars in aid from the West. However, it wasn’t long before American priorities shifted from building a stable Afghanistan to securing strategic interests and fighting al-Qaeda at any cost.

For Wahid and others like him, this meant a decade or more of precarious work as interpreters, aid workers, and soldiers for the US-led coalition. Many took risks that would have been impossible without financial incentives – which were sometimes paid in full but often delayed or never materialized.

US forces eventually routed al-Qaeda from its strongholds along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, but at what cost? The country’s fledgling government was left to deal with an influx of foreign troops, contractors, and aid workers who brought chaos. When US withdrawal talks started in 2012, many Afghans felt betrayed – not just by their own leaders but also by America.

The US had a system for processing visa applications from Afghan interpreters and support staff through the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. However, those who applied faced an agonizing wait of up to two years or more for a decision, with some facing rejection despite their vital contributions. Thousands remained in limbo.

The toll on Afghans affected by US actions is evident in communities across the country. Mental health issues are rampant among those who worked closely with Americans – anxiety, depression, and PTSD are just a few examples. Some struggle to rebuild their lives after fleeing Taliban reprisals or facing financial hardship.

Diplomatic outreach efforts have started to recognize these problems, including President Joe Biden’s pledge in 2021 to increase the annual cap for Afghan translators seeking refugee status from 4,000 to around 8,000. However, this still leaves a long way to go in reestablishing trust between Washington and Kabul – not just for those who risked everything but also for America itself.

The consequences of US actions are clear: our decisions have far-reaching effects on those closest to us and the world at large.