"Save The Stranded: A Post Afghan-American War Project"

By Scott Chapman and Russ Pritchard

The people of Afghanistan were our loyal Allies in the Global War on Terror for twenty years (2001-2021). The Afghan military professionals built careers around selfless service, and many trained extensively in the United States at the expense of the American taxpayer. When the United States withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021, the country collapsed to the Taliban. 

Many will recall the horrific last days when Afghans clung to the departing American planes hoping to escape. Our Afghan Allies lost their homes, their pensions, and their families. The men and women of the Afghan Air Force and Special Mission Wing (SMW) arrived in the United States with the clothes on their backs and nothing more. 

They were given food stamps and a few months rent. At a time when our country is in dire need of pilots and airplane mechanics, the aviation professionals from Afghanistan living in the United States are working jobs in the rideshare industry or as cashiers in convenience stores. Most are trapped working several menial jobs to support themselves and feed their families still hiding from the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Afghan American Development Group (AADG) takes a tactical, and more logical, approach to helping former Afghan Air Force and Special Mission Wing personnel adjust to life in America. This requires a multi-step approach to overcoming mountains of paperwork, reunification with loved ones left behind, transitioning from military to civilian careers, and finding the right job. AADG creates hope, focused efforts, and helping new Afghan refugees succeed. 

Flooded by requests from around the world, a unanimous message vocalized to the writing team of Chapman and Pritchard, is a fear-driven plea for help. Since the Fall of Kabul, many Afghans are tortured and killed by the Taliban. Hunting humans while using tools and tactics taught by us, the U.S. Entire families, 11+++, are forced to relocate every few days to stay ahead of the Taliban death squads.

Our Afghan Allies were there for us for twenty years; we need to be here for them now.  

This is one story: 

Born in Kabul, Abdul Malik worked as an interpreter for the U.S. Intelligence community while deployed to the infamous Helmand Province. Regarded as the Taliban’s birthplace, this region produces over 40% of the world’s opium. This story’s co-author, Scott Chapman, spent over a year working with Abdul Malik in Helmand Province where Chapman was a security contractor. Abdul worked as an interpreter for the American security contractors supporting the U.S. Govt’s efforts in Helmand Province. Abdul lived with the Americans in safe houses and then in covert installations throughout the province. He coordinated security checks for any local nationals who entered the secure facility. He also served as the liaison between the local guards force (LGF) and their American mentors during active engagements with the Taliban. He performed these duties for over two years. Abdul eventually returned to his family in Kabul and took a project manager position for a construction company that fulfilled U.S. Government contracts. He never spoke about his time in Helmand Province. 

As a consequence of the United States Military’s departure from Afghanistan, hordes of radicals from Helmand Province have filled the power vacuum and terrorize the citizens of Kabul. “Anyone who worked for the U.S. Government is hunted like a dog.,” says Abdul. “We’re too scared to look out a window in fear of attracting attention. I am responsible for sixteen people. We live in a tiny rented house and are running out of food. We share the house with another family who’s also hiding from the Taliban, and we can’t hide here much longer. This is the second time we’ve moved since the Taliban took over.”

The Taliban ransack homes in search of those who worked with or supported the Americans. They barge into homes and rip up the floorboards, look behind furniture, and dump everything on the ground in search of ‘incriminating documents’; such as an [American] base access ID card, certificates of appreciation from the Americans, or anything written in English. Abdul continues, “Now that the residents of Helmand Province are in Kabul, I can’t walk down the street or go to the market because I'll be recognized as someone who worked with the United States,” says Abdul. “The Taliban offer a reward for anyone who helps locate the families in hiding. We burned every document, ID badge, and certificate I received from the U.S. If they find me, they will kill all of us. My mom; my dad; and even my kids.” 

“A lot of people ‘got disappeared’ in the past few weeks and their families don’t know whether they are dead or alive. They’re just gone,” says Abdul. “We can never rest. One of us stays awake all night to watch for the Taliban. We live in terror. Any minute they could burst through the door. I don’t know how much longer we can do this.”

Help bring Abdul’s family to safety. Help AADG.