Interpreter who helped rescue Joe Biden in 2008 safely departs Afghanistan
October 12, 2021, 1:06 am

Interpreter who helped rescue Joe Biden in 2008 safely departs Afghanistan

Afghanistan-Men-Meeting/Pixabay

The BBC reported, an Afghan interpreter who helped rescue then-senator Joe Biden from the harsh Afghanistan countryside has managed to evacuate the region with his family.

The BBC said that in 2008, a blizzard forced the military helicopter carrying Mr Biden and other US lawmakers to land in a snowy valley where they were vulnerable to ambush.

It mentioned, Aman Khalili was among the Afghan employees of the US government that drove the group to safety.

Since August, Khalili had been appealing for help overcoming visa issues to leave.

According to the BBC, Aman Khalili now joins thousands of Afghans who have fled the country rather than live under Taliban rule.

On Monday, a representative for the US State Department told BBC News that Mr Khalili and his family had "safely departed Afghanistan and subsequently initiated onward travel from Pakistan".

Afghanistan-Tajikistan-Wakhan valley/Pixabay

"They did so with extensive and high-level engagement and support from the US Government, and we are grateful for the many others who also supported him along the way."

Thirteen years after his chance encounter with the future president - as well as senators Chuck Hagel and John Kerry - Mr Khalili was struggling to secure his US Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) to flee Afghanistan.

Following the chaotic US withdrawal this summer, Mr Khalili called upon Mr Biden to save him, his wife and five children. "I trust him," he told CNN. "I trust that he can do everything."

When asked about Mr Khalili's situation in September, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki thanked him for "helping a number of my favourite people out of a snowstorm and for all the work you did" and said the US was "committed" to evacuating allies.

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The Human First Coalition, an organisation helping to rescue over 200 Afghans now in Pakistan, told the BBC they were "deeply grateful" to US and Pakistani officials for helping "in our efforts to bring President Biden's interpreter and his family to safety".

The SIV was designed specifically for Afghans and Iraqis who worked alongside American troops in both of those conflicts. It is unclear if Mr Khalili has obtained this visa, or if he is travelling to the US.

Since 2008, approximately 70,000 Afghans have been resettled in the US on an SIV.

Source: BBC

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”