High Court finds hundreds of Afghan allies wrongly rejected for UK sanctuary

In 2021, following the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, many Afghan special forces, known as the Triples, were left behind and their applications for sanctuary in the UK were rejected. Recently, a High Court judge, Lord Justice Dingemans, uncovered significant flaws in the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) handling of these cases, revealing that many Afghan commandos, who had fought alongside British forces, were denied resettlement due to misguided criteria interpretation. The judge emphasized the wrong rejections resulted from caseworkers not having access to important records, leading to a lack of understanding of the Afghans’ eligibility. As the issues came to light, it was also found that the MoD officials depended excessively on input from UK special forces personnel, which contributed to poor decision making. The government's review of applications, which had initially stated it would encompass all credible links to Afghan specialist units, was revealed to be narrower than indicated, only covering those cases forwarded to a UK special forces liaison officer. This misrepresentation in parliamentary information prompted the judge to call for a correction, highlighting the need for accurate communication regarding the review's scope. Through ongoing scrutiny of around 2,000 applications reexamined since February 2024, it became apparent that more cases might require reevaluation, primarily due to previously unconsidered payroll data rediscovered by the MoD. Although 600 Afghan allies have since been granted approval to come to the UK, the struggle for justice continues for many others, as legal representatives emphasize the need for natural justice. The ruling has not only shed light on the processing issues but has also set a precedent for transparency in handling sensitive cases, particularly those involving individuals who risked their lives supporting British forces. The High Court’s decision ultimately reflects the urgency of addressing the welfare of these Afghan commandos amidst the Taliban's violent retribution against former allies. With ongoing government reviews, the situation remains critical as many Afghan allies await clarity on their status and future safety.