Daily US Times: Sohail Pardis, who worked as an interpreter for the United States Army for 16 months during the 20-year-long conflict, was reportedly beheaded by Taliban militants. He was caught by Taliban while driving from his home in capital Kabul to nearby Khost province to pick up his sister for the upcoming Eid holiday celebrations to mark the end of Ramadan.
It was supposed to be a happy occasion for Pardis and his family, but during the trip on May 12, as the 32-year-old drove through a stretch of desert, his car was stopped at a checkpoint by Taliban militants.
Pardis had confided to his friend just days before that he was receiving death threats from the Taliban. The militant group had discovered he had worked as an interpreter for the US Army.
His co-worker and friend Abdulhaq Ayoubi said: “They were telling him you are a spy for the Americans, you are the eyes of the Americans and you are infidel, and we will kill you and your family.”
As Pardis approached the Taliban checkpoint, he wanted to speed up his vehicle. He was not seen alive again.
Villagers who witnessed the incident told the Red Crescent the Taliban militants shot his car before it swerved and stopped. They then dragged Pardis out of the car and beheaded him.
Pardis was one of thousands of Afghan interpreters who worked for the United States Army and now face persecution by the Taliban, as the group gains control of wider swaths of Afghanistan.
You may read: China imposes sanctions on US officials
