An Afghan ex-commando, who once fought alongside British forces, has been forcibly returned to Afghanistan with his family while awaiting resettlement in the UK under a government protection program.
This individual was part of an elite Afghan special forces group known as the Triples, trained by British Special Forces. His son, using the alias Rayan, expresses deep concern for their safety as the Taliban relentlessly pursues them.
Following Kabul’s collapse in August 2021, the family has been targeted by a Taliban faction that has subjected their relatives to repeated beatings and torture in retaliation for their collaboration with British and coalition troops. After Western forces withdrew, the commando and his family sought refuge through the UK’s Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap), designed to protect those who supported British military efforts.
Although their initial Arap application was denied in 2023, an appeal led to their evacuation to Pakistan in October of the same year due to the escalating threat from the Taliban. However, recent reports revealed that 13 Afghans awaiting Arap approval, including this family, were deported from Pakistan back to Afghanistan amid a crackdown on Afghan refugees in Islamabad.
Rayan recounted how he, his wife, and child narrowly avoided arrest by hiding in a hotel bathroom during the sweep. “The Triples, the special forces, are executed by the Taliban when found,” he explained. “Before we were evacuated to Pakistan, the Taliban raided our home twice weekly. They assaulted my family members, broke my three-year-old niece’s arm on two occasions, and beat my mother. When we were moved to Pakistan 11 months ago, we believed our ordeal was over. Now, back in Afghanistan, we live in constant fear – fearing for our lives and the safety of our family.”
The family’s details were compromised in a significant Ministry of Defence data breach that exposed nearly 19,000 Afghans who applied for UK relocation. Currently, they remain in hiding within Afghanistan, awaiting permission to enter the UK.
The Triples, formally known as Commando Force 333 and Afghan Territorial Force 444, were highly trained units that collaborated with the SAS and SBS on some of Afghanistan’s most perilous missions. After the Taliban’s takeover, many members faced brutal persecution, including torture and execution. Rayan’s family was forced into hiding after Taliban fighters burned down their safe house while searching for his father, who was captured and beaten before escaping.
In 2023, the UK government declared their initial Arap application “ineligible.” Around this period, approximately 2,000 resettlement requests from Afghan special forces personnel were rejected amid an investigation into alleged war crimes involving British Special Forces. The Ministry of Defence denied obstructing former commandos from participating in the inquiry.
A review initiated in 2024 overturned about 30% of these refusals, and later that year, Rayan’s family received preliminary approval to relocate to the UK. “Every time the Taliban raided our home, they accused my father of being a ‘mujahideen killer’ and vowed to exact revenge,” Rayan shared. “We endured countless hardships holding onto the hope that the UK government would eventually evacuate my father, who deserves protection. But we remain uncertain if we will survive.”
The family’s visas in Pakistan expired, leading to their detention amid Pakistan’s large-scale expulsion of Afghan refugees. In late 2023, Pakistan launched a campaign demanding millions of Afghan residents leave voluntarily or face forced removal on security grounds. Rayan stated that British officials were aware of their deportation threats from Pakistani authorities and that they were granted a final one-month visa extension after an earlier arrest.
He described pleading with British officials for visa renewals but was told no further assistance could be provided. “They informed us that they could not issue new visas, could not guarantee our safety from deportation, and were unable to offer additional help,” he said.
Despite ongoing appeals, the family has yet to receive a conclusive decision on their Arap application. Rayan noted that other families of Triples veterans have already been resettled in the UK. “I have repeatedly asked the Ministry of Defence and the British High Commission why my family has not been brought to the UK, especially since my father served alongside British forces for many years,” he said.
Lord Dannatt, former Chief of the British Army, told The i Paper: “Given the clear danger facing this family, the Ministry of Defence must expedite their case and, if confirmed that the individual served with a Triples unit, ensure their swift relocation to safety in the UK.”
The UK government stated it is actively engaging with Pakistani authorities to secure protection for Afghans awaiting relocation but acknowledged that decisions on deportation rest with Pakistan.
An MoD spokesperson commented: “We remain committed to supporting all eligible individuals once they successfully complete the necessary security and entry checks for relocation. The UK Government is working closely with Pakistan to provide assistance to those undergoing processing in third countries wherever possible.”
0 Comments