The Covenant is not based on a true story but is inspired by the collective experiences of interpreters and soldiers in the war in Afghanistan. Jake Gyllenhaal's character, John Kinley, is not a real person but is instead inspired by real sergeants who worked with interpreters. The movie highlights the unshakable bonds that developed between soldiers and interpreters and sheds light on the challenges they faced after the US military withdrew from Afghanistan.

The relationship between a soldier and their interpreter, like John Kinley and Ahmed at the center of The Covenant, is a strong and unique one, bearing a striking resemblance to the kind forged during the war in Afghanistan, and raising questions as to how closely the movie is based on a real story. The film follows Sergeant John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal) whose work with Afghan interpreter Ahmed (Dar Salim) takes them into dangerous situations in hostile enemy territory.