Taliban's bloody revenge on Afghans abandoned by UK

Holly Bancroft, Jessica Purkiss, Fahim Abed and May Bulman verify the killings of more than 100 ex-Afghan forces since 2023, one of whom was executed in front of his children

- Holly Bancroft, Jessica Purkiss, Fahim Abed and May Bulman

Afghan security forces who fought alongside British and US troops are still being hunted down, tortured and executed by the Taliban while the UK drags its heels over bringing at-risk Afghans to safety, The Independent can reveal.

A shocking new investigation reveals more than 100 ex-Afghan forces have been killed in the country since 2023, with others tortured - laying bare the danger facing service personnel left behind by allied forces following the Taliban takeover in 2021.

The stark figures have renewed calls for the UK to deliver on its promise to help the thousands of eligible Afghans still waiting for sanctuary in Britain, with government delays over resettlement blamed for enabling the Taliban to “wreak revenge” over the past four years.

Among those killed is Ali Gul Haidari, a former member of the Afghan special forces who worked closely with US troops, who was gunned down in front of his wife and children in early 2024. He was targeted after being deported back to Afghanistan from a neighbouring third country, having fled there to seek sanctuary.

Others have been tortured at the hands of the Taliban and live in fear for their lives. Former commando Najmuddin served in one of two UK-funded special forces units, known as the “Triples”, and was approved for relocation to Britain six months ago. But, before he could flee to safety, he was detained yards from his front door and taken to prison, where he was so badly beaten that he had to be hospitalised. He was eventually released from Taliban custody after nearly a month and remains in Afghanistan.