UK aid to Afghanistan entrenched corruption and injustice, report finds
GuardianMAR 12 2023
The UK's Labour government said Monday it will allow hundreds of Afghan special forces members who fought alongside British troops to re-settle in the UK, stating that it expects to overturn decisions on roughly a quarter of 2K applications rejected by the previous government.The UK Government announced Monday it will allow hundreds of Afghan special forces members who fought alongside British troops to re-settle in the UK, stating that it expects to overturn decisions on roughly a quarter of 2K applications rejected by the previous government.
Following the withdrawal of coalition forces and Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, the 2K rejected applicants were mostly members of elite Afghan units known as the Triples — units that were set up, funded and run by the UK. Since 2021, reports suggested that a number of these Afghans have been killed by the Taliban, while others are in hiding.Following the withdrawal of coalition forces and Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, the 2K rejected applicants were mostly members of Afghan units set up, funded and run by the UK known as the Triples.
While a review was launched by the Conservatives in February, Luke Pollard, the UK's armed forces minister under Labour, told the House of Commons on Monday that the emergency re-examination revealed "problems that have dogged the Afghan resettlement scheme under the previous government," stating that had been "an inconsistent approach" to decision making.Meanwhile, an investigation by Lighthouse Reports, The Independent, and Sky News in Nov. 2023 found that at least 24 members of the Triples had been tortured or killed by the Taliban since Aug. 2021
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This review, commissioned by the Conservatives, showed there was never bad intent in why applications were rejected. This brand new process was plagued with communication issues, as well as problems maintaining accurate records across various departments, and that's why some applications were overlooked.