The 35-year-old made Jesmond his home two years ago with his wife and two children. But most of the rest of his family - seven younger brothers and sisters as well as his parents, are in Kabul, where the Taliban have seized back power from the western-backed government.

Mr Zakhil, an interpreter for the Australian Defence Force in Afghanistan for ten years, waits daily for news of his family, he told the Newcastle Herald on Tuesday.

"The most recent message I have received from my younger sisters ... they are worried and scared of the Taliban ... that they will be captured held captive ... they were crying," Mr Zakhil said.

"Everybody is under a lot of pressure and in a deep state of depression."

His family was attacked as recently as two weeks ago, on July 29, while fleeing the city of Kandahar, which was already in the hands of the Taliban. "It was an armed attack ... they were shooting at them ... they could manage to escape but the bullets and the holes are still in the car."

"Now Kabul is in the hands of the Taliban so they are not safe. Everyone over there that we have connections with has witnessed the killing of innocent people. They are looking for people who have worked with defence forces and other countries - they are witnessing these deaths."

Along with many other members of Newcastle's Afghan community and those around the country, Mr Zakhil pleaded with the federal government to do whatever it can.

"We are asking for an urgent moving of our families to Australia in order to be safe," he said. "We ask again for the government to consider our service to Australia - if that is important to you, you should consider our applications in a deep and a serious way."

The Taliban took control of Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan, on Monday after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, following the withdrawal of American troops. Australia had quietly withdrawn the last of its defence and civilian personnel from Afghanistan in the middle of June.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said Australia is working with its allies to try to ensure safe passage for any Australians still left in Afghanistan.

"We are also assisting those who have been granted humanitarian visas, and others who are in the process of applying for protection. As a partner committed for many years to helping Afghanistan build its future, we are deeply concerned at the potential for further loss of life and suffering."

However, his government has been heavily criticised for doing too little, too late, including veterans who feel they have left 'mates' behind, says Opposition spokesman for Defence, Brendan O'Connor.

"While other countries have been evacuating their Afghan supporters for weeks, the Morrison-Joyce Government has provided no clarity on if, when and how they will get hundreds of Afghans who helped Australia, and their families, to safety," he said.

"Many veterans have said this issue is exacerbating their existing trauma because they see it as leaving their mates behind."

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