In brief
The imminent deportation of an Afghan man with ties to British forces raises fears of Taliban violence, particularly after the UK inadvertently leaked his family's details. While they seek safety in Pakistan, their relocation to the UK remains uncertain despite prior approval.
An Afghan man, whose sensitive data was leaked by the UK government, has been detained in Pakistan with his family, facing imminent deportation. His son disclosed to the BBC that they fear for their lives should they be sent back to Afghanistan, where the man, having served in the Afghan special forces alongside UK troops, risks retribution from the Taliban. The family's plight comes amid Pakistan's ongoing campaign to deport those deemed “illegal foreign nationals.” The son, who prefers to remain anonymous as “Rayan,” described the terror of hiding with his infant son to evade capture while his relatives were taken to an overcrowded holding facility. “I am so scared they will suddenly be deported,” he expressed, emphasizing the urgency of their situation.Since applying to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) shortly after the Taliban regained power in 2021, the family has been waiting for a response while staying in Pakistan. They had their biometrics recorded in October 2024 but have received no clarity on their situation. The Ministry of Defence stated that they cannot comment on individual cases while reiterating their commitment to eligible individuals who meet relocation criteria.Compounding their fears is the data breach that exposed the identities of nearly 19,000 Afghans seeking resettlement in the UK. As a result, Rayan is concerned that his family’s details put them at even greater risk. He has reached out to the British High Commission in Islamabad to seek relocation to a safer environment. Labour MP Calvin Bailey, who has experience working with the Afghan special forces, expressed distress over the situation, emphasizing the responsibility to protect these individuals who have served alongside British military forces. Meanwhile, Pakistan's authorities have expressed their frustration with the slow pace of the UK's resettlement processes, urging urgent action as more than one million individuals have already been returned to Afghanistan under a new repatriation initiative.According to UN estimates, approximately three million Afghans live in Pakistan, with many undocumented and fearing deportation amidst ongoing police operations. The UN Refugee Agency has called on Pakistan to ensure any returns are voluntary and safe, expressing a need for protective measures for those at risk, such as the family in question.
