Mukhtar, a former Afghani interpreter to the U.S. State Department
On April 23rd, I received a text message from an old friend, Mukhtar*, my interpreter in Afghanistan. I had stayed in contact with Mukhtar when I left the country in 2014 after five years with the State Department. During my time in Afghanistan, Mukhtar saved not only my life but many other American lives.
In his text, Mukhtar told me that the worst-case scenario had happened. The Taliban knew who he was and were trying to get him. My friend Mukhtar had two small children, his wife was seven months pregnant, and they needed to leave fast.