A Plea for Urgent Evacuation: The Untold Story of a Former Afghan Counterterrorism Judge

(Written under a pseudonym for safety reasons)

My name is a Mohamad – a pseudonym I am forced to use for the safety of myself and my family. I was a judge in the former government of Afghanistan, serving in various provinces across the country. For the last ten years before the collapse of the Afghan government in August 2021, I held one of the most sensitive and high-risk judicial positions: Chief Judge at the Counterterrorism Court within Bagram Air Base.

This was not an ordinary court. It was the central facility for prosecuting the most dangerous terrorist suspects captured by U.S. and Afghan forces. Among the high-profile cases I presided over were:

• Anas Haqqani, a key figure in the Haqqani Network

• Hafiz Rashid, involved in financial support for extremist networks

• The Kabul University terrorist attack, orchestrated by ISIS

• And dozens of other cases involving Taliban, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and affiliated insurgent groups.

In this role, I applied Afghan law with integrity and dedication, fully aware of the personal risk it carried. My court was often the final stop for some of the most dangerous individuals who threatened not only Afghanistan, but international peace and security.

When the Afghan government collapsed and the Taliban took over, I knew immediately that my life was in grave danger. I had expected to be evacuated by the U.S. or allied forces, given the nature of my work and my contribution to the counterterrorism mission. But that evacuation never came.

Instead, I was forced to go into hiding with my wife and four young children. We lived in fear, constantly changing locations, until we were able to escape to Pakistan, where we are now registered under the P-1 refugee resettlement process.

Sadly, even after completing all the necessary steps for the P-1 case, we remain stuck in Pakistan in a state of extreme uncertainty. Our situation has become more dangerous:

• Pakistan has suspended visa extensions for Afghan refugees

• Our U.S. support letters have expired

• We face daily security threats, with no legal protection

• And if deported to Afghanistan, the Taliban will likely imprison or execute me for my past role.

We sold everything we had to escape Afghanistan, and now we are left with no home, no income, and no clear future.

My children – aged 11, 9, 6, and 4 – deserve to grow up in safety, not in fear. My wife, a strong and patient mother, has stood by my side through years of struggle, but the uncertainty is now becoming unbearable for our family.

I write this appeal in hopes that someone, somewhere, will hear our voice. I respectfully urge the U.S. Government, particularly the administration of President Donald Trump, to take immediate action and help us relocate to safety. My service in the judiciary was not just a job – it was a stand against terrorism. I worked in coordination with U.S. forces to uphold justice and protect civilians from extremist violence.

That service now puts my life and the lives of my loved ones at risk every single day.

Please, do not let this story end in silence. I am ready to provide any supporting documentation regarding my identity, my work history, and my refugee case. What I need now is protection – not only for myself, but for the family who has already suffered too much.

Sincerely,

Mohamad