Minister admits flawed decisions led to hero Afghans being turned away

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A Conservative defence minister has admitted that flawed decision-making led to Afghan particular forces heroes being turned down for sanctuary in Britain.

In a significant victory for The Independent, James Heappey confirmed the federal government will now re-examine the instances of round 400 particular forces troopers rejected for settlement within the UK.

The Armed Forces minister admitted some decisions have been “inconsistent” and “not robust” and will probably be checked out once more after a joint investigation by The Independent, Lighthouse Reports and Sky News.

Mr Heappey informed the Commons there had been errors with the method of deciding on Afghan troopers from two models are often called the Triples – Force 333 and Force 444.

In recent hope they are going to be given a house within the UK, the minister promised a brand new staff on the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will make sure that “decisions [are] changed if that is necessary”.

The Afghan troopers have been subjected to torture and homicide by the hands of the Taliban after being denied assist beneath the federal government’s flagship Arap (Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy) scheme.

Our six-month lengthy investigation revealed how instances weren’t being correctly thought of, although the Triples soliders fitted the standards and had proof displaying they labored “shoulder to shoulder” with British forces.

Mr Heappey stated a latest overview of processes round eligibility decisions confirmed “instances of inconsistent application of the Arap criteria in certain cases”.

He promised the federal government would now “take necessary steps” to apply the standards pretty. “I can confirm that the MoD will undertake a reassessment of all eligibility decisions made for applications with credible claims of links to the Afghan specialist units.”

The minister additionally informed MPs: “Undoubtedly there have been some decisions made that are not robust and need to be reviewed …We will now work quickly to make sure that these decisions are reviewed and cases and decisions changed if that is necessary.”

The Independent’s joint investigation discovered that in some instances seemingly no consideration had been given to official certificates and ID playing cards displaying their closeness with the UK particular forces (UKSF).

In different cases, references from British colleagues and proof of a payslip from the UK have been ignored.

But Mr Heappey cautioned towards the concept a blanket approval of 400 particular forces troopers beneath the Arap scheme – suggesting that there had been good causes to flip some Aghans down.

He stated the particular forces cohort “present a unique set of challenges in terms of eligibility decision-making” – declaring that some served of their models when the Afghan authorities that changed the Taliban after the UK-US invasion was nonetheless getting arrange.

Mr Heappey added: “It is also the case that they did report directly into the government of Afghanistan, meaning we do not hold comprehensive employment or payment records in the same way we do for other applicants.”

If profitable, the particular forces troopers will probably be allowed to deliver their members of the family with them to the UK – that means hundreds in concern of their lives in Afghanistan and Pakistan might be given sanctuary.

Campaigners have welcomed the information that Triples instances will probably be re-examined – however have raised considerations over the division’s want to keep a “case-by-case” overview.

Colonel Simon Diggins, a former defence attaché in Kabul, stated he was “pleased to hear that the government has committed to review the Triples’ cases”.

He added: “I note that there is still a case-by-case review process planned: this must not be used as a delaying tactic as these brave men and their families are at risk. This must take days, not years.”

The abandonment of Afghan commandos has pushed various them to journey to the UK by way of harmful and irregular routes – journeys Mr Sunak has vowed to deliver an finish to along with his pledge to “stop the boats”.

Habibullah, whose identify has been modified to shield his household in Afghanistan, arrived in Britain following a year-long tumultuous journey from Iran by way of Europe which culminated within the crossing in a dinghy from France.

“I never let down the British forces, I risked my life to help them. We’ve been for so many operations together, I was always there for them, but they let me down when I came to their country,” he stated.