The UK government has reversed its position and will now review applications for sanctuary from hundreds of Afghan special forces soldiers who fought alongside British troops. Approximately 400 members of the Afghan Commando Force 333 and Afghan Territorial Force 444, known as the Triples, will have their cases reassessed after the Ministry of Defence changed how it evaluates their claims.
The decision follows a joint investigation by The Independent, Lighthouse Reports and Sky News, which revealed that the soldiers were subjected to torture and murder by the Taliban after being denied help by the UK, despite evidence that they were paid, trained and worked 'shoulder to shoulder' with British special forces. At least six Triples members have been killed since the West's withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.
Campaigners welcomed the announcement but urged the government to relocate the soldiers and their families quickly, warning that up to 200 members living in Pakistan face potential deportation to Afghanistan. Colonel Simon Diggins, a former defence attaché in Kabul, said the review must not be used as a delaying tactic, and 'must take days, not years'.
Security minister Tom Tugendhat commented: 'We should never have left our comrades behind. Johnny Mercer has been working hard to turn this around.' The Ministry of Defence is expected to make a parliamentary statement on the changes this week.
The Independent also reports that officials from the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan – which is investigating alleged war crimes by UK Special Forces between 2010 and 2013 – have questioned UKSF's unwillingness to approve Triples' cases for resettlement. Sources indicate that UKSF had been obstructing the process, leading to blanket rejections.
