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UK plans to evacuate Afghan 'interpreters' under new policy

Monday, 31 May 2021 4:21 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 31 May 2021 4:25 PM ]

Afghan "interpreters" who assisted British forces in conflict zones such as Helmand province often hid their identity from locals to avoid reprisals by militant groups

As the UK prepares for a full retreat from Afghanistan plans have been announced to also evacuate local Afghans who have helped British forces since their deployment in 2002.

UK to follow US in leaving Afghanistan

The UK is set to follow the US in fully retreating from Afghanistan by the middle of September.

The total number of Afghans eligible for resettlement is more than 3,000, a figure which also includes their families.

Most of the Afghans who are expected to be resettled in the UK in the next few months worked for British forces as “interpreters”.

However “interpreters” is an expansive term in a military setting as it can encompass a wide range of tasks including spying on the local community on behalf of a foreign occupying power.

Alleged war crimes by British Special Forces in Afghanistan set to have major repercussions

The British government

The decision to speedily evacuate pro-British Afghans represents a major reversal in British government policy.

Earlier schemes imposed strict criteria on who could resettle in Britain, focusing in particular on the applicants’ length of service and precise roles.

But under the new policy, any current or former British helper who is “assessed” to be under serious threat of reprisals by the Taliban or other groups will be offered priority evacuation to the UK.

In a statement, the government announced: “Following the decision to begin the withdrawal of military forces from Afghanistan, the Prime Minister [Boris Johnson] has agreed with the Ministry of Defense, Home Office and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to rapidly accelerate applications through the policy".

Commenting on the plans, Defense Secretary, Ben Wallace, said it was “only right” to accelerate evacuation plans.

Talking to the BBC, Wallace claimed that “with Western powers leaving, the threat is increasing, including targeted attacks by the Taliban”.

Wallace added that those Afghans who had worked for the British in interpretation tasks and other roles had “sacrificed a lot to look after us and now is the time to do the same”.

Home Secretary, Priti Patel, also employed the ethics of reciprocity by saying: “It’s our moral obligation to recognize the risks they faced in the fight against terrorism and reward their efforts”.

"I'm pleased that we are meeting this fully, by providing them and their families the opportunity to build a new life in this country", the Home Secretary added.

There are believed to be around 750 British troops left in Afghanistan, most of which are reportedly providing “security” in the capital Kabul.