Former Translator For The U.S. Army Beheaded By Taliban In Afghanistan

An Afghan man who worked as a translator for the United States Army was beheaded by the Taliban after receiving death threats from the group.

Sohail Pardis, 32, was driving to pick up his sister on May 12 for Eid when he was stopped at a Taliban checkpoint. He tried to navigate through the checkpoint but was unable to do so. 

“They were telling him you are a spy for the Americans, you are the eyes of the Americans, and you are infidel, and we will kill you and your family,” his friend and co-worker Abdulhaq Ayoubi told CNN. 

Witnesses saw his car getting shot up as he tried to pass through the checkpoint before it came to a stop. Pardis was then dragged out of his vehicle and beheaded.

Pardis worked as a translator for the Army for 16 months before being fired over a failed polygraph test in 2012. He has tried to leave Afghanistan on a special visa, but his request was denied. About 18,000 Afghans who worked for the U.S. military have applied for the Special Immigrant Visa Program, which would allow them to come to the United States. The evacuation for SIV applicants is scheduled to begin the last week in July.

The former translator is survived by his nine-year-old daughter. She is currently in the care of his brother, who told the outlet they fear for their safety.

“I’m so worried about the safety of my family. There’s not much work in this country, and the security situation is very bad,” said Najibulla Sahak.