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Afghanistan: why a visibly distressed government minister had to admit that ‘some people won’t get back’

Posted on 25 August 2021

Sara de Jong's opinion piece in the Conversation

People attempt to climb into Kabul airport in the hope of fleeing Afghanistan. EPA

Dr Sara de Jong's latest opinion piece for The ConversationAfghanistan: why a visibly distressed government minister had to admit that ‘some people won’t get back’ was published last week. 

Sara says "The “lightning speed” of the Taliban’s advance fails to fully explain why so many western nations have been left scrambling to bring their former local Afghan staff to sanctuary. Interpreters and other locally engaged civilians (known as LECs) have been at risk for many years.

Interpreters themselves, but also veterans, journalists and other advocates have said so for a long time. The relocation should not have needed to happen at the 11th hour."