Hazari

Task Force Argo member Ian first met Hazari in 2012 while assigned together in support of Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan. Despite Hazari's rudimentary English and Ian's complete lack of Dari, they hit it off immediately as friends. They worked together while on patrol against the Taliban and later against ISIS-K. Ian considered Hazari to be his "Afghan Soul Brotha".

Over the next nine years, Ian deployed to Afghanistan many times. Ian and Hazari both made a point to see each other when Ian was in Afghanistan, taking personal vacation time if necessary. Ian often described Hazari as "an American trapped in an Afghan's body" and helped with the visa application process. However, every year there were different obstacles or delays that prevented Hazari's visa from coming through. During those years, Hazari got married, and soon, his wife became pregnant.

When the Taliban suddenly overran Afghanistan in August 2021, Hazari reached out to his friend Ian for help. Ian first leveraged every contact he knew to try and get his friend to safety. However, as the situation got worse, Ian's military friends introduced Ian to Task Force Argo. Task Force Argo was able to secure safe passage for Hazari, his family, and one of his friends to a Task Force Argo-funded safehouse in location away from Kabul. They are all hiding in the safehouse while they wait for their freedom flights, also funded and shepherded by Task Force Argo.

Both Hazari and his friend are passionate about their love for the volunteers of Task Force Argo and the American people who helped them and are determined to enlist in the US military one day to give back for what America has given them.

This picture is of Ian, Hazari, and other Afghan friends in 2012.