Afghan Refugee Faces Imminent Deportation Amid Concerns Over Taliban Threat

A significant data breach identified Afghan refugees at risk of Taliban persecution following deportation. An Afghan man detained in Pakistan fears for his life due to his past as part of the Afghani special forces, with a history of collaboration with British forces, and faces imminent deportation despite ongoing efforts to secure relocation under the UK’s Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP).

An Afghan man, whose personal information was compromised in a major data breach in the UK, is currently detained in Pakistan along with his family, facing imminent deportation. His son informed the BBC that their case is particularly urgent due to the high risk of Taliban retaliation if they are forced to return to Afghanistan.

Documents inspected by the BBC indicate that the detained man was associated with Afghan special forces units, referred to as the Triples, who collaborated with British forces during their military operations in Afghanistan. Recent practices in Pakistan have targeted "illegal foreign nationals" for deportation, leading to increasing anxiety among the Afghan community residing there.

Rayan, the man's son (a pseudonym for safety), managed to evade capture by concealing himself in a bathroom at a hotel in Islamabad while police apprehended his family members. He shared the distressing details of their situation, revealing that his relatives, including young children, were taken to a holding facility with others. Rayan is fearful they may soon be forcefully deported.

The family's attempts to escape the threat of deportation began shortly after the Taliban regained power in August 2021. They applied for the UK's Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, which was intended to assist Afghans who served alongside British forces. Despite receiving initial endorsement from the British Ministry of Defence, their relocation wait has stretched excessively, leading to growing despair for Rayan and his family.

The UK Ministry of Defence has refrained from commenting on individual cases but reiterated its commitment to support all eligible individuals who successfully meet relocation requirements. However, the leaked data concerning nearly 19,000 Afghan applicants, including Rayan's family, has exacerbated fears of persecution in Afghanistan, with Rayan expressing apprehension over potential police action against his own family next.

Labour MP Calvin Bailey, a former RAF commander who worked with the Triples, expressed deep concern for the family's safety, highlighting their importance and asserting that stronger protection measures must be taken for those allied with UK forces.

In Pakistan, officials like Interior Minister Talal Chaudry have expressed frustration with the prolonged processes preventing safe resettlement for Afghan refugees. Since the launch of Pakistan's "Illegal Foreigners' Repatriation Plan" in September 2023, over a million individuals have returned to Afghanistan, posing significant safety concerns given the economic and political turmoil that persists.

The United Nations has cautioned Pakistan to safeguard against forced returns, particularly ensuring the safety and dignity of Afghans facing the threat of persecution upon their return to Taliban-controlled territory. The urgency of this humanitarian crisis remains apparent as well over three million Afghans continue to reside in Pakistan, with significant numbers still without legal documentation.