W.Va. senator working to help Afghan allies flee Taliban

BROOKE COUNTY, W. Va. (WCHS) — West Virginia State Senator Ryan Weld, R-Brooke, hasn't gotten much sleep in the last week, worried about two of his Afghani allies who are now in grave danger as the Taliban tightens control on Afghanistan following U.S. troop withdrawals.

"They were employees of the government that we worked with on a daily basis that worked to support our mission," Weld said.

Weld served in Afghanistan from 2010-11. He said the men, one named Mohammed and the other remaining anonymous, are well-known to the Taliban for their efforts to help the United States.

"They're terrified,” Weld said. “One individual's brother-in-law was killed Tuesday night by the Taliban. He was a former member of the Afghan national police, and so he was killed in his home earlier this week."

Weld is working with another veteran he was deployed with, making calls and trying to communicate with anyone that can help those who helped them.

"These people made a conscious decision, they made a choice to go to work, helping to support our goals and mission in Afghanistan, and now their lives are in danger because of that choice. So I think we have an obligation to get them out," Weld said.

Weld says he disagrees with the abruptness of the decision to withdraw troops, because many Afghan citizens do not have visas ready.

"The timeframe for these people to be able to apply for a visa was not meant to take three days or four days," Weld said.

With the recent attack at the Kabul Airport, it's been difficult finding ways for them to leave safely.

Weld said they are looking into land routes to possibly get them into another country such as Pakistan.

"We just can't give these guys advice that's half hazard. They're in Kabul waiting and looking to us for that assistance. We're doing everything we absolutely can," Weld said.

The deadline to withdraw U.S. troops is Tuesday, Aug, 31.