Welcome to Episode 13 of The Afghanistan Project Podcast, where hosts Mikael Cook and Beth Bailey highlight the struggles of Afghans living under Taliban rule, and the efforts of individuals from a variety of backgrounds and political affiliations who have stepped up to provide support to the people of Afghanistan in the chaos that followed the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Our guest this week are Pasoon Khan and Ryan Engle. Pasoon is a former Afghan interpreter who worked alongside U.S. forces from 2008 to 2014, including during chaotic fighting seasons in southern Afghanistan during the surge. In 2014, Pasoon came to the U.S. under the special immigrant visa program. He became a citizen in December 2021, and now works as a security guard to support his wife, children, parents, and family in Afghanistan. Ryan Engle was one of many U.S. military personnel who benefitted from Pasoon’s incredible service, and is among ten who personally wrote Pasoon a letter of recommendation for his SIV. Ryan is a United States Naval Academy graduate, and served 6 years as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. He is now involved in providing long term care for veterans.

In this episode, Pasoon talks about the path that led to him becoming an interpreter. He discusses being outside of Patrol Base Dakota on Nov. 21 2010 and watching a grenade fly over his head and land on the rooftop where LCpl Kyle Carpenter and his friend were providing security. Pasoon witnessed the act of heroism that came next when LCpl Carpenter leapt atop the grenade to shield his friend from its blast, an act which later resulted in LCpl Carpenter being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Pasoon also discusses being severely wounded in an IED blast in Kajaki, and the painfully long recovery process that followed his injury.

Pasoon and Ryan also discussed the efforts that were made in the lead-up to, and aftermath of, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan to secure the evacuation of Pasoon’s family. When Pasoon’s parents and siblings were unable to evacuate from Hamid Karzai International Airport, Pasoon and Ryan fought for their admittance by filing for humanitarian parole while Pasoon worked 80-90-hour weeks to pay for the expenses of his own family, his parents and siblings in Afghanistan, and his uncle’s family in Afghanistan. When Pasoon noticed his father’s health declining in the spring of 2022, he flew to Afghanistan and forced the State Department’s hand. Pasoon was only able to secure evacuation for his parents, who were subsequently stuck in Qatar for eight months before they could enter the U.S. Pasoon’s six siblings, two of whom are under the age of 18, remain in Afghanistan. The family remains frustrated by their predicament.

About the hosts:

Mikael Cook was an Army non-commissioned officer and veteran of the war in Afghanistan. He was an active member of the #DigitalDunkirk movement to evacuate our Afghan allies in August of 2021. You can follow his Instagram @Mikaelcook89.

Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance writer who has covered post-withdrawal Afghanistan extensively, primarily in the Washington Examiner. Follow her on Instagram @BWBailey85 or Twitter @BWBailey85.

For listeners in Afghanistan:

If you would like to have your story considered for a future episode, please send us a letter about your experiences to our show e-mail address, [email protected]. Please include as much detail as possible, and let us know if you would like us to give you a pseudonym to protect your identity.