The Interpreter (Pt 1): Hunted by the Taliban
The Story
The Times
3.9 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 14 December 2021
⏱️ 32 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
As we come to the end of 2021, we're revisiting some of the biggest stories of the year.
Today, we look back to the moment the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan – as one former interpreter's life hung in the balance.
Join us tomorrow for an update on Ahmadzai's story.
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Guests:
- Ahmadzai, former interpreter for British and American forces in Afghanistan.
- Charlie Herbert, retired British Army major general.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Clips: BBC, CBS, NBC, CNN.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello, David Arunabic here. |
| 0:04.8 | Throughout December, we're revisiting some of the episodes this year that have stayed |
| 0:08.6 | with us. |
| 0:14.6 | Back in August, we all watched the scenes of chaos as Afghans mobbed Kabul airport, some |
| 0:20.3 | even clinging to the wings of American planes as NATO withdrew, desperate for anywhere |
| 0:26.0 | out. |
| 0:31.2 | The Afghan government crumbled before the last NATO plane had even left the runway. |
| 0:36.7 | Many people faced death if they stayed because they'd worked for NATO and British troops. |
| 0:43.0 | One of those people was an interpreter who'd been promised safe escape but was left behind. |
| 0:48.4 | To leave me behind in Kabul, you're just making Taliban to come and kill me. |
| 0:53.2 | They will just shoot me and then you will say, oh, he was shot by Taliban, we didn't |
| 0:57.5 | kill him. |
| 0:58.5 | But the fact is, you are creating the way to kill me. |
| 1:04.4 | In August, when Manvine recorded this episode, we didn't know what would happen next. |
| 1:10.4 | You're listening to stories of our times and the times of the Sunday times. |
| 1:13.7 | Today, the interpreter, part one, hunted by the Taliban. |
| 1:23.2 | Hi, is that ****? |
| 1:27.5 | Yes, this is me, how are you? |
| 1:30.2 | Fine, thank you. |
| 1:31.2 | Thank you very much for doing this. |
| 1:33.5 | I was on the phone to Ahmed's eye, a former interpreter for British and American forces |
| 1:38.6 | in Afghanistan, who I've been in touch with over the last few days. |
... |
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