Former Afghan interpreters who worked with the Australian military say their family members are still stuck in the region and in danger, nearly a year after the Taliban took control of the country.
Key points:
- An interpreter says they regret working with the Australian government because of the impact it has had on their family
- A lawyer who helps Afghans with visas says the Taliban are still targeting people who helped foreign forces in Afghanistan
- According to the Settlement Council of Australia, visa delays are due to a backlog of applications
More than 200,000 Afghans have sought humanitarian protection in Australia since August last year, with almost half of these still waiting for their applications to be considered.
The long delay has prompted an Afghan interpreter, who spent two years working alongside Australian Defense Force (ADF) troops based at Tarin Kot, to express his regret at working with the ADF.
“Now we regret why we even worked for the Australian government because of the impact of this [inflicted] about our relatives,” said the former performer, who the ABC has not named to protect his family.
“They’ve been asked ‘why have their family members worked with the Australian military and the previous government’ and they’ve been asked about where we are – they’re looking for us.
“I feel desperate as my extended family has not been given any help and they have not been evacuated to a safer place like Australia.”
More than 6,000 Afghans have been given humanitarian visas since the Taliban regained control, with priority given to local personnel, women and ethnic minorities.
But many of this group are still in Afghanistan or neighboring countries on temporary visas.
He fears for the life of the former embassy guard
Glenn Kolomeitz, a former Australian army officer and lawyer who helps Afghans with visa applications, says some have already suffered damage.
“In the last 48 hours, we had one of our former embassy guards kidnapped and we expect him to be killed,” Kolomeitz told the ABC.
“We expect to find his remains dumped outside the house in the next few days. These are the hard facts.”
Former Australian army officer and lawyer Glenn Kolomeitz says some relatives of performers are at high risk from the Taliban. (Four Corners)
Kolomeitz said the Taliban are still targeting people who helped foreign forces in Afghanistan.
“The wife of one of our people died a short while ago after moving from safe house to safe house and being hunted,” Kolomeitz said.
Kolomeitz said the family of a performer who died while serving with Australian troops was still languishing in a refugee camp in Texas, 12 months after being evacuated.
“One of his brothers was an Australian army interpreter who was killed by a rogue Afghan army soldier, along with three Australian soldiers,” Kolomeitz said.
“If anyone is owed protection by Australia, it is the family of this performer.
Huge application backlog causing lag
The ABC contacted Immigration Minister Andrew Giles to discuss the reports but did not receive a response.
Earlier this week, Giles told SBS News that a taskforce has been set up to focus on the resettlement of Afghan nationals.
“We are applying a large number of resources to this problem because it is a huge priority for the government,” he said.
Settlement Council of Australia chief executive Sandra Elhelw Wright said the visa delays were due to a huge backlog of applications.
“That’s what happens with conflict like the demand for resettlement balloons and there aren’t enough places available for everyone who needs security,” he told the ABC.
Elhelw Wright said the 6,000 people who have resettled in the past six months are already contributing to society.
“They talk about how optimistic they are about their lives in Australia, but the key challenge for them is the concern they have for their family overseas.”