Saving Aziz: How the Mission to Help One Became a Calling to Rescue Thousands from the Taliban
By Chad Robichaux
Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 9781400238156
224pp.

Not entirely interested in US-Taliban relations but as part of my book club I reluctantly picked up Saving Aziz: How the Mission to Help One Became a Calling to Rescue Thousands from the Taliban, authored by the former Force Reconnaissance American marine Chad Robichaux. And to my pleasant surprise, it was not typical political literature on foreign policy frameworks and political dynamics.

The book details the incredible rescue missions that evacuated not only the author’s longtime friend and interpreter Aziz, but also more than 17,000 Afghans and allies who were left at the mercy of the Taliban regime when the United States military withdrew from Afghanistan.

Following the tragic events of September 11, the United States embarked on a military campaign with the primary objective of ousting the Taliban regime in tumultuous Afghanistan. This geopolitical backdrop serves as the contextual foundation for the narrative at hand.

At the time, Chad Robichaux distinguished himself as one of America’s most resilient and formidable warriors. His duties entailed conducting classified special operations within the war-ravaged and beleaguered nation.

A gripping account of how one former American soldier helped his Afghan interpreter and thousands of others to flee the Taliban in Afghanistan

Throughout his illustrious career, Chad Robichaux undertook eight specialised operational deployments to Afghanistan. During these arduous campaigns, he forged an unwavering camaraderie with Aziz, a trusted Afghan interpreter, as they collaborated on the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) task force, fervently dedicated to capture or kill the uppermost echelons of the Taliban movement.

During this time, Chad found himself not merely an ally but an esteemed member of Aziz’s family, their profound connection transcending the bonds of brotherly friendship.

In April 2021, which marked 14 years since Robichaux’s last mission, the Biden administration declared that the United States would conclude its two-decade presence in Afghanistan. They aimed to withdraw all American military forces from the country by the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

This announcement spurred Robichaux into immediate action, as he felt a compelling duty to ensure the safety of Aziz and his family. The story of Aziz’s rescue began as just that — a plan to rescue Aziz and his family. It quickly grew into a calling because, organising these rescue efforts, Robichaux recognised a broader humanitarian need to assist other Afghan individuals he had come to admire and respect.

As the withdrawal deadline loomed closer, he formed a coalition of non-profit organisations known as ‘Save Our Allies’ and established Task Force 6:8, comprising 12 former special operations veterans. Their mission was to evacuate American citizens, green card holders and applicants for special immigration visas (SIVs) from the perilous environment of Afghanistan. Remarkably, they managed to evacuate an impressive total of 12,000 individuals within a mere 10 days, relocating them to the United Arab Emirates.

Subsequently, in collaboration with various other non-profit groups, they continued their tireless efforts, evacuating an average of 50 people each day over the ensuing weeks. In the end, they successfully evacuated over 17,000 individuals, a staggering achievement that ranked as the largest number evacuated by any single rescue organisation, second only to the United States military.

In the aftermath of the daring rescue endeavours, Robichaux embarked on an intensive reconnaissance mission lasting 10 days, conducted by a team of two operatives. This mission yielded crucial flight path information leading to the border with Tajikistan.

Operating under the shroud of darkness and subjected to relentless surveillance by the Russian KGB, they deftly eluded capture by both the Taliban and Chinese special forces. Remarkably, they emerged as trailblazers on the ground, furnishing real-time intelligence to external intelligence agencies. Their efforts paved the way for subsequent evacuation operations, facilitating the safe rescue of additional individuals.

Saving Aziz offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the extraordinary rescue operation that spared thousands from the clutches of the Taliban amid an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.

The gripping and enlightening narrative provides a vivid portrayal of Robichaux’s encounters with the multifaceted and intricately layered Afghan culture and its people. He recounts his firsthand interactions with individuals affiliated with the Taliban and offers his unique perspective on the two-decade-long conflict, spanning the tenures of four different US presidents. The book also delves into an insider’s perspective on the tumultuous events that unfolded in Afghanistan during the rapid withdrawal of US forces.

Quite aside from the politics of the long American presence (or ‘occupation’ in the Taliban book) in Afghanistan, this book serves as an inspiring testament to the human spirit’s boundless potential when individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying nationalities, beliefs and religions, unite in pursuit of the seemingly unattainable.

Within its pages, one will encounter a notable account of how a Jewish organisation contributed a substantial sum of US$1.6 million through a Christian non-profit for the rescue of Muslims. The reader will also be touched by the exceptional generosity exhibited by the UAE, not only in terms of monetary support, but also in providing essential aircraft and temporary refuge to the evacuees.

One can feel goosebumps reading about how “looking into a stranger’s eyes breaks down prejudice and apathy” and why “risking it all is worth it when it comes to loving one another” — showcasing the indomitable spirit of human compassion and unity in the face of adversity. Sadly, those emotions were not always on display during the US military operations in Afghanistan, as numerous other accounts have shown.

While I’m not an American and may not have grasped all the intricacies of the political discussions presented, I genuinely valued Robichaux’s willingness to convey his perspective and shed light on what he sincerely believes transpired after April 14, 2021. He asserts that the United States was “set up for failure from the onset of the withdrawal.”

Given the significant sacrifices he made and the personal toll it exacted, one is compelled to take heed of his narrative. It’s essential to recognise that every story has multiple facets, and there is much to gain from understanding the viewpoints of all those who were engaged in these events.

The reviewer is a content lead at an agency.
She can be reached at sara.amj@hotmail.co.uk

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, October 8th, 2023