The UK government has overturned 884 rejected resettlement applications from former members of Afghan special forces, granting them a path to live in Britain. The decision, announced on Thursday, follows a review of cases involving soldiers from two elite units known as the “Triples” – CF333 and ATF444.
Those affected will now be eligible under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (Arap), subject to standard visa checks. The scheme, established in April 2021, was designed to protect individuals who worked with UK armed forces and faced risks after the Taliban takeover later that year.
In February 2024, the previous Conservative government acknowledged that some Arap decisions were “not robust” and pledged to re-examine around 2,000 cases. The Press Association reports that approximately 3,300 Triples applications have been assessed in total as part of the review.
Labour Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard told the Commons in October that officials had discovered evidence of British government payments to Afghan troops, contradicting earlier claims that no direct employment existed. He described the lengthy review process as a “source of deep regret and concern”.
Announcing the overturned decisions, Pollard said: “The journey of improvement is, of course, a continuous one and MoD will continue to build on the learning from this review. Although I cannot change what happened in the past, I am proud of the work that we have undertaken to conclude this review and deliver on our promise to support eligible Triples who contributed to the UK mission in Afghanistan.”
