“Thousands of Afghan nationals, who had worked in support of British forces prior to the Taliban’s takeover, find themselves stranded in Pakistan due to reported cost-cutting measures by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, according to UK media reports.
As revealed in documents presented before a UK court, PM Sunak allegedly directed government departments to relocate Afghan individuals only if alternative accommodations, other than hotels, were arranged for them, as part of an effort to reduce expenses associated with housing migrants in hotels, as reported by the BBC.
The UK government had instituted two distinct programs to facilitate the resettlement of Afghan citizens within the United Kingdom. The first, known as the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP), was intended for Afghans who had directly collaborated with British military forces and their families. The second initiative, the Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), was designed for individuals who had participated in British-run civil projects or belonged to vulnerable minority groups, according to the BBC.
However, a considerable number of eligible Afghans have found themselves in a state of uncertainty in Pakistan, as the UK ceased issuing visas. The Independent reports that around 2,300 Afghans who had worked alongside British armed forces have been residing in Islamabad hotels for several months, awaiting instructions to secure a home in the UK before relocation.
In response to these challenges, two eligible Afghan citizens filed a legal case against the UK government in a British court, claiming that their promised resettlement was delayed due to Prime Minister Sunak’s alleged decision in November 2022.
Tom de la Mare KC, the representative for the refugees, informed the court that Prime Minister Sunak’s directive to halt the use of hotels for Afghan arrivals in the UK was motivated by cost-saving measures, as detailed by The Independent. This decision also led to the Ministry of Defence suspending flights for bringing people from Pakistan to the UK, placing families at risk of potential deportation back to Afghanistan. The refugees’ lawyers expressed concerns about their clients’ safety, highlighting fears of potential arrests by Pakistani authorities, making it impossible for them to leave their hotel in Islamabad.
In response to these allegations, lawyers for the UK government argued that the accommodations in Pakistan, while not ideal, were considered adequate. They maintained that individuals under these resettlement schemes had access to case workers and asserted that there was no legal obligation on the government’s part to provide education in this specific situation, according to the BBC.
As a result of Pakistan’s ultimatum for all illegal foreign nationals to leave by November 1, the UK government expedited the relocation process. The Independent reported that since October 2, 59 individuals have been brought to the UK, with another 470 expected to be relocated by the end of the month. Nonetheless, an estimated 1,900 individuals would still remain in Pakistan after November 1, as indicated by the plaintiffs’ lawyer in The Independent.
A spokesperson for the UK government assured the BBC that they remained committed to fulfilling their obligations to bring eligible Afghan citizens to the UK. The statement reiterated that the government would coordinate and cover the expenses of their travel “once suitable accommodations in the UK have been secured.”
The spokesperson also emphasized the UK’s track record of bringing approximately 24,600 individuals to safety, including a substantial number who were eligible for various Afghan resettlement schemes.”
