- Nasir served as an Interpreter for 4 Years with the British Army
- He received 2 confirmations of qualification for UK relocation
- MoD revokes Nasir’s welcome, Denying him entry to the UK
LONDON: A former translator for UK forces, who served on the frontline, is at risk of being returned to the Taliban after Britain ‘harshly’ retracted its sanctuary offer.
For over two years, Nasir (a pseudonym protected by a court order), who served the British military for four years and was injured in a bomb explosion while on duty, was under the impression that he was on the verge of relocating to the UK. He had been informed twice that he was eligible for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP).
The 34-year-old sold his house and possessions in Afghanistan following instructions from UK officials to travel to Pakistan. Here, he, along with his wife and young son, have been awaiting their flight to England to start a new life.
However, in an abrupt reversal, he has been informed that he is no longer eligible for ARAP. He now faces the possibility of being deported back to Afghanistan, to the ‘enemy’ he ‘assisted Britain in fighting.’
A distraught Nasir stated, ‘This is akin to imposing a death sentence on me if I am compelled to return.
‘I participated in hundreds of perilous operations with UK forces, I was their reliable “eyes and ears”, I assisted in carrying injured UK soldiers and risked my life alongside them numerous times. Hence, I fail to comprehend why I am being denied relocation despite having been approved.
‘For two years, we have been waiting to be flown to Britain like others, but now the country I served for over four years wants to disown me – they gave us hope and now intend to take it away. It is harsh and unfair.
‘If I am forsaken, they are aware of the threat I face in Afghanistan due to my work for the UK. My father and son have been assaulted by Taliban fighters in search of me.
‘They have been warned that I will be executed as a “spy” for Britain.’
Nasir, a former supervisor of interpreters who worked with UK forces from 2007-11, initially applied for ARAP in 2021 but was rejected on the grounds that he had been terminated (dismissed) following a dispute with another interpreter.
His case was one of those championed by the Daily Mail’s award-winning ‘Betrayal of the Brave’ campaign, which underscored how the UK military had dismissed 35 per cent of their translators, potentially subjecting them to Taliban retribution as they did not qualify for ARAP.
Officers he had served with on the frontlines lauded Nasir’s ‘courage under fire’, describing him as ‘diligent and hardworking…an integral part’ of operations.
Shortly after the Taliban took control of Kabul, Nasir was informed he could relocate, sold his home and belongings, and travelled to Islamabad where he is staying in a hotel supervised by the British High Commission.
Last year, he received another letter from ARAP confirming his eligibility for relocation.
However, three months ago, he was contacted again by ARAP to be informed that both approval letters had been ‘erroneously sent’ and were ‘invalid’.
He was informed he was ‘not eligible’ for relocation – oddly, the letter claimed that he had been terminated in 2013. It was 2011.
Nasir has consistently maintained that he was attacked by the other interpreter, that he was dismissed despite his highly commended work without an investigation or right of appeal, and that he was not questioned about the incident.
One translator who was present at the time of the incident and is now in the UK has offered to testify on his behalf.”
