May 31, 2021
AT News
Afghanistan Times
KABUL: The UK is speeding up granting asylums to the thousands of Afghans who worked for the British military-mostly interpreters as fears grow of possible dangerous outcomes of post-international force exit.
UK Secretary of Defense, Ben Wallace said that it was “only right” to accelerate such plans due to interpreters being “at risk of reprisals” from the Taliban.
More than 3,000 Afghan workers will relocate in UK in next months.
“This is allowing people a route to the United Kingdom for safety, the people who supported the British armed forces and the British government over many, many years in Afghanistan who feel they are in danger and it’s absolutely right that we stand by those people,” Wallace said. “It’s my duty as Defense Secretary, I believe, to do the right thing by these people, and when they come here they will be supported and I very much hope that the British population also supports them, because these people have taken great risks very often to protect the men and women of our armed forces.”
More than 1,400 Afghans and their families have already relocated to the UK, and hundreds more have received funding for education and training.
The procedure of the applicant’s role have been changed as the earlier scheme had not eligible a large number of interpreters, but currently any of former locally employed staff member deemed to be under serious threats will be offered priority relocation in the UK.
This will be regardless of their employment status, role, rank or length of service, and the scheme will be open for applications even after British troops have left Afghanistan.
The arriving Afghans in UK will be offered help with housing and other essential needs, Wallace added.
“Following the decision to begin the withdrawal of military forces from Afghanistan, the prime minister has agreed with the Ministry of Defense, Home Office and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to rapidly accelerate applications through the policy,” the UK government said in a statement.
The UK has around 750 troops in Afghanistan. The withdrawal of British military become under action after the U.S. President Joe Biden announced that he will pull all American Service Members out of Afghanistan by September 11.
UK Secretary of Defense, Ben Wallace said that it was “only right” to accelerate such plans due to interpreters being “at risk of reprisals” from the Taliban.
More than 3,000 Afghan workers will relocate in UK in next months.
“This is allowing people a route to the United Kingdom for safety, the people who supported the British armed forces and the British government over many, many years in Afghanistan who feel they are in danger and it’s absolutely right that we stand by those people,” Wallace said. “It’s my duty as Defense Secretary, I believe, to do the right thing by these people, and when they come here they will be supported and I very much hope that the British population also supports them, because these people have taken great risks very often to protect the men and women of our armed forces.”
More than 1,400 Afghans and their families have already relocated to the UK, and hundreds more have received funding for education and training.
The procedure of the applicant’s role have been changed as the earlier scheme had not eligible a large number of interpreters, but currently any of former locally employed staff member deemed to be under serious threats will be offered priority relocation in the UK.
This will be regardless of their employment status, role, rank or length of service, and the scheme will be open for applications even after British troops have left Afghanistan.
The arriving Afghans in UK will be offered help with housing and other essential needs, Wallace added.
“Following the decision to begin the withdrawal of military forces from Afghanistan, the prime minister has agreed with the Ministry of Defense, Home Office and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to rapidly accelerate applications through the policy,” the UK government said in a statement.
The UK has around 750 troops in Afghanistan. The withdrawal of British military become under action after the U.S. President Joe Biden announced that he will pull all American Service Members out of Afghanistan by September 11.
UK to relocate thousands of more Afghans as troops pull out
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the move is "a moral obligation"
THE WEEK Web Desk May 31, 2021
File: British soldiers with NATO-led Resolute Support Mission arrive at the site of an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan | Reuters
The UK has announced that thousands more Afghans who worked for the British troops would be able to settle in the UK as troops pull out and fears for the safety of the Afghans grow.
The programme allowing Afghans who worked as interpreters for the British troops—The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy was launched this year and over 1,400 Afghans and their families have been relocated to the UK. Hundreds of the families received financial aid for education and training.
About 3,000 more Afghans, including those who worked for the British military and the UK government, mostly as interpreters, and family members are expected to be relocated to the UK.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said it was "only right" to accelerate plans to relocate the Afghans or they might “be at risk of reprisals” from the Taliban.
Wallace said, "This is allowing people a route to the United Kingdom for safety, the people who supported the British armed forces and the British government over many, many years in Afghanistan who feel they are in danger and it's absolutely right that we stand by those people.”
Earlier versions of the scheme limited the number of people who could be relocated, as they were being considered based on their specific roles and length of their service.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the move is "a moral obligation". “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," Patel added.
Concern over the safety of the interpreters has been in the spotlight since the British forces ended combat operations in Helmand in 2014.
Logistics on how the Afghans would be flown out of the country along with the British troops will need to be worked out. The government will also need to liaise with local authorities on where and how to resettle the Afghans.
The UK has announced that thousands more Afghans who worked for the British troops would be able to settle in the UK as troops pull out and fears for the safety of the Afghans grow.
The programme allowing Afghans who worked as interpreters for the British troops—The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy was launched this year and over 1,400 Afghans and their families have been relocated to the UK. Hundreds of the families received financial aid for education and training.
About 3,000 more Afghans, including those who worked for the British military and the UK government, mostly as interpreters, and family members are expected to be relocated to the UK.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said it was "only right" to accelerate plans to relocate the Afghans or they might “be at risk of reprisals” from the Taliban.
Wallace said, "This is allowing people a route to the United Kingdom for safety, the people who supported the British armed forces and the British government over many, many years in Afghanistan who feel they are in danger and it's absolutely right that we stand by those people.”
Earlier versions of the scheme limited the number of people who could be relocated, as they were being considered based on their specific roles and length of their service.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the move is "a moral obligation". “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," Patel added.
Concern over the safety of the interpreters has been in the spotlight since the British forces ended combat operations in Helmand in 2014.
Logistics on how the Afghans would be flown out of the country along with the British troops will need to be worked out. The government will also need to liaise with local authorities on where and how to resettle the Afghans.
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