A non-profit organization is calling for an investigation into the events leading to the death of an asylum seeker who fought with U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, 41, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in front of his family and taken into custody in Dallas, Texas. The father-of-six had been preparing for the school run with his children when he was detained by officers.
Just 24 hours later, the family was told Paktyawal, who had served as an Afghan special forces soldier for more than a decade and fought side-by-side with the US Army Special Forces, had died.
A statement issued by the non-profit organization, AfghanEvac, has called for an investigation into the death, as they say the healthy 41-year-old should not have fallen ill and died so suddenly. Their statement read, "The cause of death is unknown. But one fact is clear: it is not normal for a healthy 41-year-old man to die within a day of being taken into government custody.
"Mr. Paktyawal survived our war in Afghanistan and trusted the United States enough to rebuild his life here. His family deserves answers. The American public deserves answers. The U.S. servicemembers who fought alongside Afghan partners deserve answers.
"AfghanEvac is calling for an immediate and transparent investigation into the circumstances of his detention, medical care, and death, including oversight by the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General and Congress.
"The United States made a promise to the Afghans who stood with us. Honoring that promise requires transparency, accountability, and dignity in how they are treated here at home."
Further information issued by AfghanEvac confirms the veteran was admitted to Parkland Hospital in Dallas at around 11:45pm on March 13. The family was informed he was still alive at 8 a.m. the following day, but was then told of Nazeer's death on March 14 at 12 p.m.
"It is highly unusual for an otherwise healthy 41-year-old man to die less than 24 hours after being taken into government custody," AfghanEvac noted. "His family deserves answers."
A statement from the family stated, "Since arriving in America, Nazeer focused on providing for his family. He worked, supported his children, and tried to build a peaceful life after everything our family had been through. The morning he was taken away, he was getting ready to drive his children to school.
"His children watched as he was surrounded and taken away. That moment will stay with them forever. Later that night we were told he had been taken to the hospital. The next morning we were told that he had died. We still cannot understand how this happened. He was only 41 years old and was a strong and healthy man. His children keep asking when their father will come home."