LONDON: An Afghan pilot, who flew combat missions alongside British and US forces against the Taliban, has shared his sense of feeling “abandoned” after his resettlement application in the UK was rejected, as reported by The Independent on Saturday.
The former Afghan Air Force lieutenant, who remains unnamed, arrived in the UK on a small boat that crossed the English Channel due to the absence of safe routes available to him.
Despite having flown over 30 combat missions against the Taliban, the pilot is now facing the threat of deportation to Rwanda after his application to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme was rejected on the grounds of being “not eligible.”
According to The Independent, the pilot was informed that he did not meet the criteria for ARAP because it required being “directly employed” or “in partnership” with the UK government, armed forces, or contractors.
The government argued that his role did not pose a “high and imminent risk” to his life and suggested that allied operations in Afghanistan would not have been significantly impacted without him.
Expressing his disappointment, the pilot stated, “We weren’t carrying out simple tasks in Afghanistan — we were doing your missions. Without our Afghan forces, the UK and US wouldn’t have been able to do their activities.”
Treatment to Afghan Veterans in UK
He further warned that Afghan veterans worldwide are closely following stories of how they are being treated in the UK. He stressed the importance of including individuals like himself, who served alongside UK forces, in the ARAP scheme, adding that the UK risks losing the trust of those who fought alongside their forces.
As he awaits a decision on whether he will be sent to Rwanda, the pilot is also awaiting a response regarding his sanctuary request from the US, which has pledged to review his case.
Reacting to the situation, Lord Dannatt, former head of the British Army, criticized the decision to pass off the pilot’s case to the US, calling it a “complete abrogation of our responsibilities and decency.”
Air Marshal Edward Stringer, commander of Royal Air Force operations during the Afghan conflict, accused the UK government of making a “weaseling distinction” regarding the pilot’s war record.
In response to the matter, a government spokesperson affirmed the UK’s commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals fleeing Afghanistan and mentioned that approximately 24,500 people have been brought to Britain. They also stated ongoing efforts to collaborate with like-minded partners and neighboring countries to address resettlement issues and facilitate safe passage for eligible Afghans.
