A decorated former Afghan police commander who survived multiple Taliban assassination attempts is facing deportation from Britain after the Home Office rejected his asylum claim, the Independent can reveal.
The officer, who served for eight years with the Afghan National Police and worked directly with British forces, has been told he has no right to remain in the UK despite receiving death threats and witnessing colleagues being murdered by the Taliban.
From Protector to Persecuted
During his service in Afghanistan's volatile Helmand province, the commander survived two direct assassination attempts - including a targeted bomb attack on his vehicle that left him with serious injuries. His work alongside UK military personnel made him a high-value target for Taliban forces, who systematically hunted down those who collaborated with Western allies.
"Every day I went to work, I knew it could be my last," the officer told the Independent through an interpreter. "The Taliban left death threats at my home, they killed my colleagues. I had to move my family constantly for their safety."
Home Office Rejection
Despite the clear evidence of threat to his life, the Home Office determined that the former commander could relocate to another part of Afghanistan, suggesting he would be safe elsewhere in the country. This decision comes despite the Taliban's return to power and their well-documented persecution of former security personnel.
Human rights organisations have documented hundreds of cases of former Afghan security forces being hunted down and executed since the Taliban takeover in August 2021.
Life in Limbo
Currently living in Uxbridge, West London, the father-of-three faces being separated from his young family, who have also built lives in the UK. His case highlights what campaigners describe as a "systematic failure" in Britain's approach to those who risked everything to support UK operations in Afghanistan.
"This man served alongside British soldiers, taking bullets and bombs to help bring stability to his country," said a representative from a veterans' support group. "Now when he needs our protection, we're turning our backs."
Mounting Pressure
The Metropolitan Police have written in support of the former commander's character, acknowledging his service and the genuine threats he faces. Yet the Home Office maintains its position, leaving the former officer and his family in legal limbo as they await a potential appeal.
With the situation in Afghanistan deteriorating daily and reports of reprisal killings increasing, refugee advocates are urging the government to reconsider what they describe as a "death sentence" decision.
As the former commander awaits his fate, he remains haunted by memories of colleagues who weren't as fortunate to escape. "I watched good men die for working with the British," he said. "Now I fear I will join them."
