Afghan interpreter who fled Taliban shot dead in Washington

Father-of-four Nasrat Ahmadyar worked with US troops for 10 years

Father-of-four Nasrat Ahmadyar. Photo: Facebook / Fundraising for Nasrat Ahmadyar Funeral

An Afghan man who worked as an interpreter for the US military in Afghanistan before fleeing his homeland when the Taliban took over was murdered in Washington while working as a driver for a ride-sharing company.

Nasrat Ahmadyar, 31, died after being shot in the abdomen in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood on Monday, police said.

The shooting came during a spate of deadly gun violence that has gripped the US capital and beyond in recent days.

Home surveillance footage captured near the scene of Mr Ahmadyar's killing recorded the gunshot and showed several youths running away, with one appearing to say: “You killed him.”

The Washington area's Afghan community is now fundraising for Mr Ahmadyar's family.

The father of four first moved to Philadelphia from Afghanistan, then relocated to Alexandria, Virginia.

He worked for the US military in Afghanistan for more than 10 years, his friends told local news outlets, and fled to the US after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021.

“He was so excited to come to America,” said Jeramie Malone, a friend of Mr Ahmadyar's who has started a GoFundMe page for his family that has raised more than $130,000.

Ms Malone said that Mr Ahmadyar's excitement, he soon experienced the country's gun culture first hand.

“As soon as he got to Philadelphia, he had an incident where he was hassled by a guy with a gun,” Ms Malone told The National.

The veteran interpreter was eventually able to defuse the situation, but it inspired him to leave Philadelphia for the Washington area, where he knew more people.

Ms Malone, who helped Mr Ahmadyar navigate his way out of Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover, said she felt guilty over her friend's death.

“I'm embarrassed that his family was so grateful that he was going to finally be safe and that America seems like a safe place and people come here to be safe. I'm embarrassed that this was the way he was treated,” she said.

Mr Ahmadyar was his family's sole earner. He was working for Lyft when he was killed.

“We have reached out to his family to offer our support and are in contact with law enforcement to assist with their investigation,” Lyft said.

His funeral is set to be held on Saturday.

“He was so happy he got a new car because he could take care of his family,” his friend Rahim Amini told WUSA9.

“His wife asked him to stay home but he said, 'I have to pay rent. I don't have that much money. I have to work.'”

Interpreters for the US Army were at heightened risk of reprisals when the Taliban swept back to power in August 2021.

Many were left behind as troops hastily withdrew and were forced to go into hiding.

Former interpreters with US and British troops have told The National the Taliban were actively searching for translators who worked with foreign troops.

Ms Malone said the money she has raised will go towards supporting Mr Ahmadyar's widow and children.

“He won't able to be here to watch his kids grow up and to watch them be successful like he wanted them to be, but we can get together and support him and pay him back for all the things that he did for us,” she said.