Hundreds of Afghans who worked with British forces still await asylum decisions

Almost 750 Afghans in hiding from the Taliban because of their work with British forces have been waiting for more than two years for a decision on whether they can come to the UK, The Independent can reveal. The 745 Afghans, who have applied for sanctuary based on their claimed work with the British army, said they were being “destroyed” by the wait to hear if they can be brought to safety under the Afghan relocations and assistance policy (Arap) scheme.

- ARCHIE MITCHELL, HOLLY BANCROFT

Armed forces minister James Heappey confirmed that 2,026 Arap applicants were awaiting a decision as of Tuesday – despite the government having pledged to slash the backlog to zero by the end of summer. Of these, 364 have been waiting for more than 18 months, while 214 have been waiting for more than a year. Those waiting for a decision in Afghanistan will face a further agonising wait for relocation even if they are found eligible – with the government insisting they arrange their own accommodation before they come to Britain.

The Independent has been calling for the UK to support Afghan war heroes who served alongside British forces, and fought a successful five-month campaign that resulted in a hero Afghan pilot whose application had been rejected by the UK being granted asylum. Mr Heappey said ministers are “working at pace” to resolve the “small number of remaining complex cases”. But Labour’s shadow defence secretary, John Healey, said the Conservatives had “failed the brave Afghans who supported our troops”.

Mr Healey told The Independent: “It is simply unacceptable that 745 Afghans have been waiting more than two years for a decision on their eligibility under the Arap scheme, leaving them in limbo and likely fearing for their own safety. This is a shameful saga of government failure on multiple fronts.”