Afghan interpreter who helped rescue Biden in 2008 left Afghanistan

Leaving Afghanistan "is life or death," says interpreter 1:00

(CNN) -

The Afghan interpreter who helped rescue then-Senator Joe Biden after his helicopter was forced to land in a snowstorm 13 years ago was asking the president of the United States to return the favor and rescue him from Afghanistan.

Eventually, he was able to leave the country, sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

Early Monday morning, sources told CNN that the Human First Coalition, along with the State Department, successfully extracted the interpreter and his family from Pakistan.

The coalition told CNN: “We are grateful for the continued support of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, for his continued support of the evacuation, with Secretary Antony Blinken, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, Senator Chris Coon, Chief of Staff DoS Suzy George, DoS JP Feldmayer, Islamabad Task Force Director Mark Terkowski for evacuating the family of Aman Khalili, President Joe Biden's interpreter from Islamabad, and his promise to evacuate the remaining 200 people who remain in Islamabad ".

The interpreter who helped Biden

The former interpreter helped rescue Biden in 2008 when his helicopter, which was also carrying Senators Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and John Kerry of Massachusetts, was forced to make an emergency landing in the mountains of Afghanistan due to a snowstorm.

This summer, the interpreter said that his special immigrant visa was stuck in processing and that he had faith in President Biden.

He told CNN's Anderson Cooper on "AC360": "I trust him."

advertising

"I trust that he can do everything," Kahlili (who at the time only identified himself under the name Mohammed) said of the president.

"He is the president of the United States. He is a man of education."

CNN has reached out to the State Department for comment.

Taliban Movement