Despite their joint fighting, UK Special Forces denied many evacuation applications from Afghan soldiers who feared persecution when the Taliban took over Kabul, according to BBC News.
The study said that the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (Arap) program allowed soldiers of Afghan Special Forces units CF 333 and ATF 444, also known as the “Triples,” who were in danger of retaliation from the Taliban administration, to seek for resettlement to the UK.
Leaked records, however, reveal that special forces turned down hundreds of relocation requests, even though some of them had strong proof of having served with the British military.
While they were being relocated, scores of Afghan servicemen who helped the UK military combat the Afghan Taliban are said to have been killed, beaten, or subjected to torture.
Applications were submitted to UK Special Forces as part of the process, and their choice was final. They were either asked to grant or reject the request.
The article, which included former US special forces personnel as sources, said that there was “a clear conflict of interest” with the authority to block applications since there was an investigation going on about claims that the troops had committed war crimes while serving in Afghanistan.
These actions also involved the Afghan elite groups.
A ex UK Special Forces officer informed the BBC, “At best it’s not suitable, and at worst it looks like they’re trying to conceal their tracks.”
After their applications were turned down, two Afghan officers informed BBC News they were forced to flee their country and live from home to home since they were unable to work or live with their families.
“I had no doubt that the British friends and coworkers we had worked with for a number of years would assist me in getting away safely. According to one of them, “I feel like my sacrifices have been forgotten now,” BBC News reported.
“I feel like I’m alone in the middle of hell.”
SOURCE: DAWN NEWS
