The following statement was provided by a former Afghan combat linguist who served honorably with the U.S. Army but failed a lie detector "test." He has applied for a Priority-2 (P-2) U.S. Refugee Admissions Program visa but has received no response. He is currently in hiding in Afghanistan, and his lie detector failure could end up being a death sentence for him and his family. If you are in a position to assist, please contact AntiPolygraph.org.

Polygraph Statement of Wais Ahmad Ahmadzai

21 March 2023


My name is Wais Ahmad Ahmadzai. I worked as an interpreter with the U.S. Army’s C Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division in Kandahar, Afghanistan from June to December 2008. I served at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ramrod and Combat Outpost (COP) Hutal in Maiwand District.

In this position I was involved in various operations alongside the U.S. Army, and I fought side by side with the U.S. Army against the Taliban. The soldiers jokingly called me “James Bond.” I was also present in several very strong explosions in which a number of our comrades were killed or wounded. One of them, Captain Sam Brown, who was leading us, was wounded and badly burned.

Me (right) with CPT Sam Brown During an Operation


Me (far right) with CPT Sam Brown at Meeting with Afghan Police


Me (far right) with Members of My Unit

In 2017, when I wanted to join again, I took a counterintelligence (CI) polygraph test at a U.S. base in Kabul. The polygraph operator did not tell me anything about the results after the test was finished. Later, the contractor Mission Essential Personnel (MEP) informed me that I had failed my counter-intelligence (CI)/polygraph interview with the U.S. military, and my application for employment was rejected. They said they didn't know the reason why I failed my CI screening. I have performed my duty with complete honesty and sincerity. And until now I have remained faithful to my commitment. I do not know why and for what reason they did such a thing. And this is my fate.

Since the Taliban came to Kabul in 2021, I and my family have been targeted by this brutal group. And also where I live, everyone knows that I worked with the U.S. forces. I have been in hiding for one year. I am in imminent danger, and the Taliban search my home regularly.

The Taliban have a mass operation, house to house and door to door, and they search for interpreters. They announced that when U.S. forces conducted operations in their villages and in their homes, the interpreters were with them, and they must be tried.

So, working with the U.S. Army has resulted in significant risks for me and my family as described above. Therefore, I would like to request the Department of Defense, especially U.S. Army, to help me given the increasing risks that I and my family will be targeted for harm or death.

The Taliban have found all the information about me, and I am in a very bad situation. Please help me in any way you can.