UK Special Forces Blocked Afghan Allies from Relocating Amid Taliban Takeover

In a recent revelation by BBC Panorama, leaked documents uncover how UK Special Forces hindered Afghan troops, whom they had fought alongside, from seeking refuge in the UK following the Taliban’s rise to power.

The leaked documents disclose that special forces dismissed relocation applications from Afghan troops, despite evidence of their collaboration with the British military during the conflict.

Afghan commandos, part of units CF 333 and ATF 444, known as the “Triples,” were particularly vulnerable to Taliban reprisals after supporting UK Special Forces in combating the Taliban insurgency.

Although eligible for resettlement under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (Arap) scheme, hundreds of Triples members had their applications turned down. Tragically, many have faced violence or death at the hands of the Taliban since.

In response to the controversy, Armed Forces Minister James Heappey announced a review of approximately 2,000 applications, acknowledging flaws in the decision-making process.

Internal documents, including a Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) document obtained by Panorama, reveal that UK Special Forces held veto power over Triples’ applications, with rejections resulting in automatic ineligibility.

Former members of the SAS, the elite British special forces unit, raised concerns over this process, citing potential conflicts of interest. The veto allowed Special Forces to influence applications while a public inquiry was investigating alleged war crimes by SAS soldiers in Afghanistan.

Panorama interviewed former Triples members who reported witnessing or reporting war crimes by UK Special Forces during joint operations. One individual withdrew support due to alleged extrajudicial killings, sparking a crisis within UK Special Forces.

The revelation raises questions about the integrity of the relocation process and highlights the challenges faced by Afghan allies seeking refuge amid escalating Taliban threats.