The British Ministry of Defense (MoD) has confirmed that it denied resettlement requests from more than 2,000 former Afghan commandos, despite credible evidence of their service in British-backed units in Afghanistan, the BBC reported.
According to the report, these forces were trained, funded, or directly supported by British troops before the Taliban takeover in 2021.
The revelation contradicts previous MoD claims that Afghan nationals who served alongside British forces were eligible for relocation under the U.K.’s resettlement policies.
Mike Martin, a British MP and member of the Defense Select Committee, called the decision “deeply concerning.”
“It appears that British special forces have blocked Afghan special forces’ applications because they may have witnessed alleged war crimes committed by the U.K.,” Martin told the BBC, referring to an ongoing investigation into Britain’s military conduct in Afghanistan.
He added that if the MoD fails to provide a clear explanation, the matter should be formally investigated.
The MoD’s rejection of more than 2,000 resettlement cases surfaced during a recent court hearing, as part of a legal challenge filed by a former member of British special forces earlier this month.
