Many Afghan interpreters risked their lives for the US â now what? By: Ben Schamisso and last updated 2021-04-28 14:47:12-04 A growing coalition of advocates is pressuring Congress and the Biden administration to not leave behind thousands of Afghan interpreters who assisted U.S. troops in the war effort but are now at risk in their home country. Among those advocates is Janis Shinwari, who fought the Taliban shoulder-to-shoulder with American and Afghan soldiers for seven years while serving as a key bridge between the two armies. "If there is no interpreter, how can they do this mission?" Shinwari said.