Taliban tortured and captured a former translator for the UK Special Forces.
Wahid, who had been trapped in Pakistan after the RAF evacuation, now fears for his safety.
After being questioned by fighters, the 34-year old Afghan claimed he thought he was going to be killed. He also said that he found email applications for relocation to Britain on his phone. Also, he discovered military certificates which showed he worked for Britain and proof of frequent contact with British colleagues.
Wahid, a 34-year-old former interpreter shows where the Taliban tortured him and beat him because of his work in the UK forces
Wahid, who was able to escape previous Taliban attacks, said: “They already had intelligence that I helped their enemy.
“They first bound me and then hooded my hands, before beating me with their questions.”
“When the men didn’t get the answers that they desired, they used an electric stick on me to shock me and put a stun gun in my neck to make it painful. It was horrendous.
He believes he was freed because of his ability to notify his wife.
According to reports, the Taliban have intensified their attacks against those working for the Coalition and the Afghan military.
Betrayal of the Brave, a newspaper campaign that highlights the beating of an ex-translator for 4 days and three others who say they narrowly escape when their houses were raided by the police, was highlighted in this newspaper.
According to some colleagues, several former soldiers from Afghan special forces who fought alongside the UK troops were executed or killed.
Wahid stated that the Taliban had promised to return and question him again. “I am afraid I won’t be as lucky.”
He also stated that he applied for asylum in the UK as part of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, (ARAP), in August just before the Taliban came to power.
Like thousands of other interpreters and around 200 others before him, he still awaits a decision about whether or not he’s eligible to move with his wife, four children, and their families.
Wahid, a medically-trained physician, stated that our lives were at risk due to our involvement with British forces.
Pictured: Another former translator from the UK, who was beaten by Taliban
Taliban march outside of the former US Embassy, Kabul. They are protesting the US’s refusal to freeze Afghan assets.
“The attack on my life shows how dangerous I am, as well as the threat to my family. This is why I appeal to Britain’s Government for recognition.”
Wahid served with the UK from 2003-2005, and said he was forced out by Taliban fighters in rural villages that threatened his family.
Although he worked as an aid agent and was often moved around the country, in 2017, he received warnings about a plot to kill his because of suspicions of spying on behalf of the British.
After he was taken from Kabul’s outskirts, he had his most recent encounter with the Taliban. He stated, “It’s terrible.”
According to the Ministry of Defence, “The ARAP is still open” and that work continues in order to process as many applications as possible.
“Since Operation Pitting ended, the RAF had evacuated nearly 1,000 additional people. We will continue to support anyone who is eligible for relocation.”