LONDON, England: Since last October, the UK has quietly relocated more than 5,000 Afghans, including former military personnel, intelligence assets, and their families, under Operation Lazurite.
This covert mission provided them accommodation at various military sites across the UK. Among the evacuees are 150 individuals who worked directly for the intelligence services.
A Whitehall source revealed that the previous Conservative government concealed the resettlement numbers to maintain a tough stance on immigration. Around 4,000 evacuees were housed in hotels in Pakistan funded by the UK, while another 1,000 traveled on Taliban-issued passports.
Many fled Afghanistan due to Taliban threats and joined approximately 27,000 Afghans already resettled in the UK after the Taliban’s 2021 takeover. Swift security checks are being conducted, and 700 homes have been allocated to the new arrivals so far.
