UK Resettles Afghan Special Forces Soldiers

The UK government is set to allow hundreds of Afghan special forces soldiers, known as the 'Triples', to resettle in the UK after new evidence confirmed they were employed and paid by the UK during the Afghanistan conflict. Previously, around 2,000 applications for relocation had been denied following the Taliban takeover in 2021, with officials citing insufficient documentation as the reason for the rejections. Armed forces minister Luke Pollard announced that a review revealed discrepancies in the initial decision-making process, leading to an expected overturn rate of 25% among the rejected cases. This decision has been welcomed as a long-overdue recognition of the sacrifices made by these soldiers who fought alongside British troops. Many of these veterans have faced severe risks, including hiding from the Taliban or fleeing to Pakistan. The review was prompted by advocacy efforts from MPs and investigations highlighting the plight of these veterans.