Afghan pilot helps people flee country under Taliban rule

KABUL, Afghanistan — An Afghan pilot is among the many frantically scrambling to get friends, family, and comrades out of the country after the Taliban takeover. 

Through his Twitter account, Afghan Special Mission Wing Pilot Col. Abdul Rahman Rahmani regularly chronicles his devastation over the fall of Afghanistan. 

My Afghanistan 🇦🇫 💔

I cried so many times in the past 2 weeks. My kids cried with me 2 times. I never imagined that someday I will be forced to live in another country. I couldn’t think about my country’s collapse but it is there, it is real!pic.twitter.com/4suvyApPRi

— Col Rahman Rahmani (@rahmanrahmanee) August 29, 2021

The pilot also Tweets the difficult challenge of helping people escape the nation now under Taliban rule. 

The Taliban terrorists have cut all mobile networks to Panjshir valley. They cut lines of supply & logistics. They r denying basic human needs to ppl in Panjshir & surrounding districts. This is what their amnesty looks like!

We hv no option but to resist & fight for our values!

— Col Rahman Rahmani (@rahmanrahmanee) August 29, 2021

I have 10 pilots in Qatar who are coming to the US soon. I have connected them with the families volunteered for them. 3 of my pilots & their families arrived in Germany. 2 in UK, & 1 Afghan friend in Poland. These r the guys I was able to help get out. The mission will continue.

— Col Rahman Rahmani (@rahmanrahmanee) August 29, 2021

Col. Rahmani says he dreads the day when he will eventually be forced to leave his beloved homeland. In the meantime, he’s helping as many people escape as possible. 

Friend to a fallen Utah hero

Rahmani has a unique tie to Utah. He was a good friend to Utah Army National Guard Maj. Brent Taylor before he was killed in Kabul in 2018. The pilot penned a heartfelt letter to Taylor’s widow, Jennie, about the man he looked up to and respected. 

Dear Mrs. Taylor,
Maj Taylor was my friend. I wrote this letter for his family.
I hope this little contribution eases your pain.

Note: this letter was sent to his physical add by one my American mentors. I tried to email too but I failed to find her email. pic.twitter.com/28nH7o4W6D

— Col Rahman Rahmani (@rahmanrahmanee) November 5, 2018

The colonel says the Taliban are specifically looking for Afghans who collaborated with the U.S. during its two decades in the region. However, Rahmani says he will not be deterred. 

We will never bow to Taliban terrorists. Our resistance will continue, small or big, but we will fight. We pursue values that don’t match Talib’s. We know who they are? They know who we are. It is a matter of time, we will emerge victorious! Not exaggerating. History tells us so!

— Col Rahman Rahmani (@rahmanrahmanee) August 27, 2021

Col. Abdul Rahman Rahmani also joined Utah’s Morning News after Maj. Taylor’s death to talk about the wonderful colleague who taught him so much.