In a swift response to the crackdown on illegal foreign nationals in Pakistan, the UK government has expedited the relocation process for hundreds of Afghan refugees eligible for asylum, as reported by The Independent.
Approximately 3,000 Afghans, many of whom had served alongside the British army, were evacuated to seek refuge in the UK after the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in August 2021. Stranded in Pakistan since last year, these refugees faced halted charter flights and a demand from UK authorities to secure housing in Britain before departure.
For months, they found temporary shelter in Islamabad’s hotels, one of which became the focus of a police raid during the ongoing operation. Some Afghan nationals with expired visas were apprehended, their release facilitated only through intervention from the UK High Commission’s staff, according to The Independent.
The UK government has initiated the search for suitable accommodation to expedite the refugees’ relocation, with flights to be arranged subsequently. Last week, approximately 20-30 Afghan families were transported to the UK on commercial flights, with plans for further movements in the near future.
The report reveals that roughly 2,300 Afghans in Pakistan qualify for resettlement under the UK Ministry of Defence’s program, while an additional 700 are eligible for relocation to the UK through a Foreign Office initiative.
Expressing his frustration, one Afghan national, who had served as an interpreter with British forces, lamented his nearly two-year wait in Pakistan. “New families are departing for the UK daily, but I remain in limbo, grappling with the wearisome and disheartening reality of life. Our struggles often go unheard and misunderstood. I exist with a heavy heart, akin to a desolate and solitary soul,” he shared with The Independent.
The UK government reiterated its commitment to fulfilling its obligations toward Afghan nationals. A government spokesperson affirmed, “We continue to uphold our commitments to bring eligible Afghans to the UK, issuing new visas for resettlement both in Afghanistan and other nations.”
