Former members of the Afghan special forces will undergo a re-evaluation of their claims for relocation to the United Kingdom.

The UK government has announced that it will re-examine cases of former Afghan special forces who served alongside British forces but were denied relocation to the UK. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey stated that ineligible applications from individuals with credible links to Afghan specialist units would be reassessed. These units, known as the "Triples," were elite groups established, funded, and operated by the UK. However, after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, hundreds of the Triples had their relocation claims rejected. Advocates have been lobbying for their cases since the Taliban captured Kabul. The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) was implemented in April 2021 to facilitate the relocation of Afghan citizens who worked with or for the UK government in significant roles. The scheme permits eligible individuals to relocate to the UK with their partners, dependent children, and additional family members who meet the criteria. Last month, it was revealed by BBC Newsnight that more than 200 former Triples members, who had fled to Pakistan, were facing deportation, and some referrals made by British soldiers had not been followed up. In a statement to the House of Commons, Mr. Heappey admitted inconsistencies in the application of ARAP criteria and announced that an independent team within the Ministry of Defence (MoD) would conduct the reassessments. He expressed gratitude to the brave individuals who served alongside or for British forces in Afghanistan, emphasizing that the UK owed them a debt of gratitude. The Triples, which include Commando Force 333 and Afghan Territorial Force 444, were considered the elite units of the Afghan military. They were established and mentored by the British during their two-decade operation in the country. When the Taliban seized Kabul, the Triples were among the last Afghan units standing, even assisting in the evacuation of British citizens. Although some managed to escape during the chaotic process, many were left behind and expected the ARAP scheme to automatically aid them. This failure to relocate the Triples has been condemned as a miscarriage of justice, and campaigners have described their situation as hellish. The delay in re-evaluating their cases is believed to have cost lives, with reports of former Triples members being targeted and killed by the Taliban. While Thursday's announcement has been welcomed by advocates, concerns remain about the speed of relocation for those deemed eligible and why it took so long for the government to amend a policy described as a shameful betrayal.