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Taliban ‘invites’ translators to remain in their own country
As concerns deepen for the safety of Afghan translators who worked alongside US and NATO forces for 20 years, once foreign troops have left the country, the Taliban on Monday issued a statement urging them not to leave Afghanistan.
In a statement issued by the group, the Taliban said it “invites them to return to their normal lives and serve their country if they specialize in their field. We do not pose a threat to them.”
The group stated that the translators are urged to “express their regret for their past and not take such a path in the future, which is considered treason against Islam and the country.”
“We used to consider them our enemy when they stood directly in the line of our enemy, but whenever they leave the line of the enemy and want to live as a normal Afghan in their country, they will not have any problems and they should not be afraid.
“And continue to live peacefully in their country, and if someone takes a threat to his life and makes a fake case to go abroad, this is his problem, not the problem of the Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate,” their statement read.
This comes after the UK government last week announced that local staff who worked for the UK government in Afghanistan, including translators, will be eligible for expedited relocation to the UK under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP).
The US has also stated it will accelerate the SIV process for those who worked with them.
On Thursday, the US State Department said that America has “a special commitment and a special responsibility” to the interpreters.
According to a US official, the State Department is adding staff in Washington and Kabul to deal with the backlog and has requested Congress authorize funding for more visas.
The 18,000 SIV applicants also have about 50,000 spouses and children under 21 that can move with them.
The Washington Post reported Sunday that at least 300 interpreters or their family members have been killed since 2014.
The United Kingdom deported only 123 Afghan asylum seekers last year, representing around two percent of the total number of Afghans whose asylum applications were rejected, according to a report by The Telegraph.
The figures highlight the limited number of returns despite a larger pool of unsuccessful applicants, underscoring the challenges facing British authorities in enforcing deportations.
The report notes that the vast majority of rejected Afghan asylum seekers remain in the UK, as legal, political, and logistical barriers continue to complicate their removal.
Discussions have been ongoing within the British government about potential arrangements to return failed asylum seekers to Afghanistan. However, no large-scale deportation framework has yet been implemented.
The issue forms part of a broader debate in the UK over migration policy, particularly as the government faces pressure to address rising numbers of asylum seekers while balancing legal and human rights considerations.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Tariq Ali Bakhit, has called for continued international engagement and urgent economic support for Afghanistan during a high-level donor community meeting held in Istanbul.
The three-day meeting of Afghanistan Coordination Group, held from April 28 to 30, brought together international stakeholders to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, with a focus on humanitarian needs and economic stability.
Addressing participants, Ambassador Bakhit said Afghanistan is currently facing a critical phase that requires sustained global attention and practical, immediate measures to ease human suffering and stabilise the country’s economy.
He stressed the importance of maintaining humanitarian assistance, particularly in food security and healthcare, while also calling for coordinated efforts to ease restrictions on banking channels. According to the envoy, improving financial access and supporting alternative livelihoods are key to preventing further economic decline and helping Afghan families cope with ongoing challenges.
Bakhit also highlighted the role of OIC-affiliated institutions and partners in supporting early recovery efforts, including the Islamic Development Bank, the Islamic Organization for Food Security, and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre.
He concluded by reaffirming the OIC’s commitment to continued constructive dialogue and cooperation with international partners aimed at promoting stability and laying the groundwork for Afghanistan’s long-term recovery.
A new charity, the Rahmanullah Gurbaz Welfare Foundation, has been officially inaugurated in Kabul. The initiative was established by Rahmanullah Gurbaz, a member of Afghanistan’s national cricket team.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Gurbaz said the foundation aims to expand access to education and healthcare services while also creating employment opportunities for Afghans. He stressed that meaningful progress in the country depends on collective effort and shared responsibility.
“The core purpose of this foundation is to promote education,” he said. “An educated person is enlightened, while someone deprived of education is like a person without sight.”
Participants at the event also underscored the importance of investing in education as a pathway to national development. Mujib-ur-Rahman Baheer, head of Ariana News, welcomed the initiative and called for greater focus on learning and academic advancement across the country.
Meanwhile, Ahmadullah Wasiq, head of the General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports, emphasized that such initiatives must be genuine and transparent, warning that they should not serve symbolic purposes or personal interests but instead deliver real benefits to the public.
The launch comes at a time when Afghanistan continues to grapple with economic hardship and overlapping crises, including poverty, natural disasters, and the return of migrants—factors that have significantly increased the need for sustained humanitarian support.
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