Pashto translator and Linguist

[hairan]

Hairana,
It seems to me as if you don't know the real job description of this job. As a Qandahary and New Yorker I have friends who were hired as translators. It's the opposite ofwhat you said.

Well, I shared with you what I knew from my knowledge. Why don't you share what you know so we increase our knowledge. What and how it happened when your New York plus Kandahar friends worked as translators?

[hairan]

Hairan, from what I have heard they force you to visit certain locations. You have to watch them interrogate and torture Afghans to "Spill out the beans" and you are there translating.

I dont understand how any Afghan or Pashtun can justify this since this war is a war on Pashtuns.

What I can say? You just come with the same one line repeated thing that 'I heard this' with no further details, no further information, and nothing else.

It is a war, of course. Some will say this is a war on Pashtuns, others may think it is a war on al Qaeda, yet there are other people who will say this is a war for oil and resources. Some describe it a war on Islam, others on Pakistan. People have different perceptions. But one thing is clear that it is a war. And both sides have their spies, their networks, their resources and sources.

Now I told you what I knew about the role of translators. But you again repeated the same thing someone had already said many times on this thread that 'I heard...'.

Can you please share with us the details of what you have heard so we understand how reliable your sources and what you have heard is? Because from just the word 'we heard' we cannot judge what you have heard. Please share details.

There is a lot of Pakistan-trained mullahs' propaganda that you may have heard. They even tell people that the Americans eat flesh of dead bodies, and lot of this kind of nonsense.

[hairan]

Hairan
obviously no one can provide proof but this like an open secret that translating = Jasoosey.

Why on earth would they pay us over 200 grands.

Who did ask you for proof? I was just requesting some details of their experiences. If you are not able to provide details, then it is easy to judge that what you are talking is nonsense.

200 grands is nothing per year for working in the world's most dangerous places. If the US government is hiring you in the US and takes you to Kandahar and Helmand, if they appoint you a Mullah imam there, still you will ask for that money because you are being hired by the world's biggest government and you are expected to work in the world's most dangerous place. Particularly when it is very hard to find competent and capable translators because good translators can earn the same amount in the US too. You know much learning resources for Pashto are not available and you cannot find so many US citizens who are good Pashto translators. Shortage makes everything expensive. And you have to leave your luxurious western life and live in a place where you can be attacked even if you are a prophet. So is 200 grands too much for that?

The problem is that you have just made your mind and for that you don't need or want to hear any reason or proof, you just want other people to believe what you say. You make your baseless opinions as sacred as religions and then expect people to accept them blindly. Anybody that provides you with accurate information and proves that your information is wrong, you just label as syp. That is a very old tactic.

[Iqra]

Don't.

[hairan]

From what I have heard. They make you storm into Pashtun family houses and demand you to translate while all the children are crying. How would you feel if someone storms your houses at 4am while you are in bed with your wife having a tired day from work?

What I can say? You just come with the same one line repeated thing that 'I heard this' with no further details, no further information, and nothing else.

It is a war, of course. Some will say this is a war on Pashtuns, others may think it is a war on al Qaeda, yet there are other people who will say this is a war for oil and resources. Some describe it a war on Islam, others on Pakistan. People have different perceptions. But one thing is clear that it is a war. And both sides have their spies, their networks, their resources and sources.

Now I told you what I knew about the role of translators. But you again repeated the same thing someone had already said many times on this thread that 'I heard...'.

Can you please share with us the details of what you have heard so we understand how reliable your sources and what you have heard is? Because from just the word 'we heard' we cannot judge what you have heard. Please share details.

There is a lot of Pakistan-trained mullahs' propaganda that you may have heard. They even tell people that the Americans eat flesh of dead bodies, and lot of this kind of nonsense.

Anything we say will not change your mind because it seems like you are lacking the basic morals of being a Pashtun. We are known for our ghairat and nang. since when was it acceptable to accept a large sum of money to translate for people who have invaded my motherland? (I am from Pakistan)

So where was your ghairat and nang when Pakistan was raping your motherland all these 60 years by dividing it into many parts and keeping them in the stone age?
What happened to your ghairat and nang when Pakistan brought the entire CIA and Punjab to Peshawar and trained criminals to destroy every value known to your motherland?
What happened to your ghairat and nang when a global network of terrorists was busy in turning your motherland into caves and planning attacks on other nations?
And is that ghairat that you call yourself Pakistani while you are Afghan?

[شمله ور خراساني]

translators are a bunch of beghairat traitors who watch how their fellow Afghans are being beaten, tortured and killed.

In Afghanistan "tarjuman" is now an official insult. It means the same thing as "pimp" or "male prostitute"

[Amir al Ghaznavi]

At one point I was interested in such a position. My mentality was:

- Many non Pakhtuns or those who dont have Pakhtun interests at heart are involved in this work causing problems for Pakhtuns through political agendas and mistranslations. As a Pakhtun with good intentions I can make a difference
- Money was good ($100,000 a year)
- Gave me a chance to see my country and strengthen my Pashto and Farsi

But I decided against it. Not for religious reasons as Im not religious. But I dont agree with this war, and I know I will see some things that will make my blood boil

And at the end of the day, ka khpal watam ta larsam, di Amrika pa tank bandee nazam

besides...I have heard of many Non Pakhtuns who would never speak a word of Pashto all of a sudden brushing up on it to go learn it. This company I dont wish to associate with

It stll hurts me though, knowing that there are non Pakhtuns in positions of power over Pakhtuns. We;re in a stuck situation. If we oppose the Americans, we are not in the decision making circles and if we join them we hurt our own people

Tse Wuku?

[Amir al Ghaznavi]

Good afternoon all,

I would like to comment on this skepticism about translator and interpreter positions that many of you may have been approached with. To be honest, that was the purpose of me joining this forum.

I joined with the purpose of finding Pashto linguists to work with my company, a civilian contractor. Many companies similar to mine are in this same search since finding indivdiuals with native Pashto speaking abilities is very difficult.

I can honestly say, that many of these companies are serious and do not require you to join the Army. These are not positions with the military, they are position with civilian contractors in support of military operations. I'm not sure about the 5 year contract that someone mentioned and over 1 million dollars salary, I have never heard of this. Most positions are 1 year contracts and the salaries are typically very high for translators that work overseas. My company also seeks Pashto translators to work in the United States doing more magazine and document translation work.

That being said; I am currently seeking Pashto linguists to travel overseas to Afghanistan. The contract is for one year, after that initial year, it is up to the linguist if they want to continue their work overseas, or come home. Interested candidates will be language tested in Pashto and English (must score at the minimum a 3 on the ILR scale). Linguists must be a U.S. citizen and have the ability to obtain a security clearance.

This is just a broad overview of the position. If this is something that someone would like to hear more information about, I am more than willing to email this individually, as it is a competitive job and I do not want to post salary information or my company information for other companies to see.

I understand if you are skeptical; however, this is an open position (currently we are seeking over 12 linguists to deploy in the next two months). We are a legitimate civilian company based out of North Carolina. Again, if someone would be interested in hearing more, please do not hesitate to ask.

Have your "civilian contractors" translate this for you

ZGHALA KHAR ANGREZ. DA DI PAKHTANO KOR DEY AW YWA PAKHTUN NASTA SI TASARA BA KOMAK WOKEE.

TSE DI PARA BA KOMAK DAR SARA WEKOO? SABA YA BALA WRAZ, TASEY LA MOGH WATAN WOZEE...

dont let the door hit you on the way out

[Catya Sher]

I think it's REALLY IMPRESSIVE that you guys are so smart and firm against this obvious temptation. It's a real testimony to principles rather than worship of the dollar.
Bravo!

Everyone said it so well already, so I can only add here that such appeals from 'civilian contractors' are so suspect.

There may a few legitimate businesses, but most of THEM have in one way or another, sold their souls to some dark place. There are so many hidden networks of evil to grab profit from Afghanistan that use as FRONTS these contractor firms.

No one intelligent is fooled: these are the equivalent of commercial mercenaries for hire.

One might turn the tables on THEM and ask why on earth do THEY NEED to be in business in Afghanistan? Is it because they care about creating a better life for the people? I'd say less than .00001 % may care about that.

Instead, they are the respectable front men behind whom the most nefarious networks operate.

For this reason alone, it's a dangerous game in which to even start. There are creepy international crime syndicates, illegal operations and the whole works. Once you are in the door, I suspect it would be difficult to extract oneself. The conscienceless groups behind the contractors - if they get a hold of you or if you try to leave the job - will blackmail and threaten violence to keep you in their tentacles. Or worse, if they see you are a good worker who can develop a rapport with those being questioned or interrogated, they may push you to do more odious tasks. Then they will coerce you so that you can't get out of there after that profitable year. I'm sure they have their ways...


So, in addition to all the other qualms of conscience involved in making a decision about such tempting offers, isn't the peace of mind for the rest of your life worth trillions?!

Also think about the "bad karma" - ! you would get for having lowered yourself to work for the invasionary forces in even the most mundane of tasks. Every tiniest word and deed goes on one's immortal spiritual record, after all....

Glad to see nearly everyone here is so strong in rejecting these alluring offers that most people anywhere in the world would never pass up for a second.

[ayub]

^ what's a Hindu Pashtun???

[Catya Sher]

Thanks, Hindu Pashtun -

What do you think are the kind of lies they tell people? I think it's useful to figure out so as to warn anyone who ventures to this site.

Understandably, some Pashtuns may be immersed in jobs or hectic schedules in America and Europe and have not had time to carefully follow the real developments.
Relying on the carefully controlled mainstream media gives glossy impressions.

This whole rise of the role of the so-called contractors allows for vague interpretations that they are there for construction projects or useful endeavors.

But I think to myself: what's wrong with a company if it needs US military contracts to feed itself? In short, maybe it was not successful in the States. OR, worse: was created hastily for this purpose and thus is beholden to its shadowy creators.

Maybe there are some legitimate ones.
But how is a new recruit able to discern the difference without massive research?

Let's say it IS a completely legitimate firm with no other agendas than building a road or whatever.
Even then, almost all Americans are so uneducated about Afghanistan, Islam, any other belief besides Southern Baptist or other Protestant Evangelical - the company above was from North Carolina in the American South, for example - that their spoken and unspoken attitudes are going to grate on any Afghan.

Many Evangelicals believe Jesus is returning to the state of Israel any old day now. Therefore, THEY are the one who are the most fervent Zionists outside of the usual suspects. They invest heavily in projects over there, assuming The Second Coming is about to happen. They are hand in glove with all Israeli advocates. That "translates" into hatred for Islam and Muslims.

Further, the apparent American and European political bias in favor of Tajiks and against Pashtuns which would cause emotional stress over time.

Worst though is the condescending attitude of these uncosmopolitan Americans who barely have left the U.S. to see any other country. If they do travel, they stay in strictly American enclaves.
Do they want to meet the people and hear about their cultures? Forget it, they care about one thing: glittering dollar signs.
I bet few contractors who solicit on any site like this read take time to read a single post about Pashtun history, lore, background, opinions on current topics. Not for even selfish reasons of being able to better appeal to prospective job applicants: they simply do NOT care.

So: it's a bad dynamic from the very start in the best of work situations, and could lead to a most unpleasant demise.