Charity backing Afghan interpreters 'surprised' that resettlement schemes shutting down
A UK charity supporting former Afghan interpreters who served with the British Armed Forces has expressed concern over the Government's decision to close the Afghan resettlement schemes to any new applicants.
Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard announced the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) would stop from 1 July, saying it could not continue indefinitely, and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), designed to help vulnerable people and those who assisted the UK efforts in Afghanistan to legally come to safety in the UK, will also be closed.
Critics say the ARAP programme has been too slow and has not yet afforded all Afghans at risk a fair opportunity to complete the process.
The Sulha Alliance, which helps Afghan interpreters and other civilians who worked for the British Army in Afghanistan, says it fears some who worked alongside British personnel could be left behind.
"The announcement that both Afghan resettlement schemes (ARAP and ACRS) are closed with immediate effect took us and our community by surprise," the charity said in a statement.
"While many former interpreters have now been resettled to the UK, we still have interpreters and other Afghans who worked for the British Army waiting for a review of their cases.
The charity also alluded to reports that high numbers of migrants taking illegal routes to the UK are Afghans, although it is unclear if any of them worked directly with the British forces.
"We hope no Afghans at risk due to their employment with the British forces will be left behind, or forced to take treacherous routes to try to find sanctuary," the statement added.
When the Western-backed Afghan government suddenly collapsed in August 2021, tens of thousands of Afghans who had supported international forces in the country were left fearing for their lives.
The British military worked with around 7,000 Afghan nationals who were hired as interpreters, guards and in other supportive roles.
Many risked their lives serving alongside UK troops fighting the Taliban in the volatile Helmand Province, while their family members also faced the danger of retribution.
When the Taliban took over Kabul in August 2021, no Afghan who had previously worked with an international organisation felt safe.
People who had been directly employed by UK forces were a prime target for retaliation, and those who were unable to flee the country immediately were forced into hiding.
While Op Pitting – the evacuation of UK nationals and Afghans who had worked for British organisations and the military – was partly successful, many who were eligible to evacuate to the UK could not complete the dangerous journey to Kabul's international airport in time.
The Government established ARAP to assist those who had been unable to flee during the emergency evacuation, with the criteria that they needed to travel to the UK from a third country for logistical reasons.
But with no easy means to travel out of the country, it was unsafe, or even impossible, for many to make the journey.
Campaigners and charities have fought hard to resolve individual cases of Afghan interpreters who were trapped living in fear under the new Taliban regime.
Some succeeded in reaching the UK, but it is understood that others are still in limbo.
Mr Pollard says the ARAP scheme has enabled more than 34,000 Afghans to successfully relocate to the UK since 2021 and start a new life.
"We can be proud as a nation that, following the Taliban's seizure of power in 2021, we have honoured our obligation to those who put their personal safety at considerable risk by offering one of the most generous Afghan resettlement programmes in the world," he said.
However, some former interpreters say they had difficulty accessing the ARAP scheme while trapped in their homeland under the Taliban regime, or found the process too slow in an increasingly urgent situation, as conditions in Afghanistan deteriorated.
The human rights group, Justice, recently criticised what it called "significant delays, a lack of transparency and a lack of consistency" in the programme.
Mr Pollard acknowledged the concern over delays, saying: "Despite the programme's achievements, however, I am also conscious that some ARAP cases have waited a long time for decisions.
"We inherited a large backlog of cases from the previous administration, and colleagues across the House have contacted the department, raising ARAP cases over the years that have faced long waits for decisions.
"I share their concern and I am determined to address every outstanding case as quickly as possible, whilst ensuring that each application is individually assessed."
He assured, however, that no one would be left behind.
"Without the contribution of our Afghan friends and allies, UK personnel who served in Afghanistan would have had an even tougher and certainly a more dangerous job," he said.
"The Government's goal remains, by the end of this Parliament, to have safely relocated those eligible and honour in full our moral obligation to those who supported our mission in Afghanistan."
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