Afghan interpreter in Pakistan pleads with Ottawa to speed up visa processing
Global News
'They are asking me, 'Please, what will happen to us? Please contact with IRCC,'' said a former Canadian Forces interpreter who escaped to Pakistan.
A former Canadian Forces interpreter who managed to escape to Pakistan this month is pleading with the Canadian government to speed up the processing of visas for the thousands of vulnerable Afghans hoping to get to Canada.
Maroof — which is not his real name — spoke to Global News from Islamabad, Pakistan.
He and 12 family members arrived in Pakistan last week, having received their travel documents from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
He said he fears that those left behind will face retribution from the Taliban before they get their Canadian visas.
“Thanks again to the Canadian veterans. They are still helping those people, but they are in big trouble, and what I would say is they are not in a good mood.”
The journey of Maroof’s family from a Kabul safe house to Pakistan was facilitated by donations to the Canadian NGO Veterans Transition Network (VTN).
The veterans’ charity said it has been supporting around 2,000 people in safe houses in Kabul since the Taliban took control of the Afghan capital in August.
VTN said it knows of up to 9,000 Afghans awaiting visa approvals, many of whom have not even been given an application reference number.
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