A Southern California couple in their 80s have successfully escaped Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, according to the office of U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa of San Diego County.
Issa said the couple had officially left Kabul as of Wednesday and were on their way home.
"This is a cause for celebration and the result of almost countless hours of work under very difficult conditions," Issa said. "Our team simply would not give up, and today it paid off and we got them home."
The couple reportedly tried multiple times to get through Taliban border checkpoints since the evacuation of U.S. troops from the country last month. They said they were harassed and intimidated, and were blocked from boarding a plane back to the U.S.
The couple's granddaughter, living in Issa's district contacted, his office earlier this month, at which point his team began coordinating an effort that ultimately brought the pair out of Afghanistan.
"I want to thank Congressman Issa and his staff both in Washington and California for everything they did to help my grandparents come home," the granddaughter said. "We are all so grateful."
The identities of the rescued couple have not been released at the request of their family, citing continued danger of reprisals from the Taliban faced by relatives still living in Afghanistan.
Since the departure of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, Issa's office said it has helped rescue 33 members of his district from Afghanistan, including six El Cajon-area families and other Americans and U.S. visa holders.
City News Services contributed reporting to this story.
