(Reuters) – Afghans who have spent years working for U.S. troops, diplomats or agencies say their lives are at risk for that service as soldiers head home, and fear a visa program that promised an escape for those facing serious threats has failed them.

The Afghan Allies program was approved two and half years ago for Afghans who have worked for the U.S. government. Since then, of the 2,630 who have so far applied, 48 have been rejected and one has received an interview.

Not a single visa has been handed out under the program.

Those still waiting said they have been marked as traitors by the Taliban, and fear they will be targeted if they remain when the last of foreign combat troops leave at the end of 2014.

“My real concern is when the coalition forces and American troops withdraw from Afghanistan,” said Mohammad Zaher Moshtaq, employed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for the past two and a half years. He applied for his visa more than seven months ago and has not heard back.

“I will be worried about my life. That is my concern. If I have not heard anything from this program. I don’t know what my other option would be after 2014,” he said.

continued at Routers…

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This entry was posted on Saturday, November 26th, 2011 at 11:13 pm and is filed under General Immigration. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.