Report: Elite Afghan Troops Face Threat of Return to Taliban

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    Image copyright: Andrew Renneisen / Stringer [via Getty Images]

    The Facts

    • Some 200 elite Afghan soldiers, trained and funded by the UK — who for years fought alongside the UK and other coalition forces against the Taliban — face imminent deportation from Pakistan to Afghanistan, where they'll likely face reprisals and ill-treatment, according to a BBC investigation.

    • Furthermore, a group of 32 former governors, prosecutors, and officials — who worked with the UK and US in Afghanistan's Helmand Province between 2006 and 2014 and fled to neighboring Pakistan after the Taliban returned to power in 2021 — reportedly face the same fate.

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    The Spin

    Establishment-critical narrative

    Having promised these brave Afghans safe passage to the UK for their tireless work alongside the country, the UK has now failed to live up to its promise, leaving these people in harm's way. Unless this situation is rectified, this is a national disgrace for Britain.

    Independent

    Pro-establishment narrative

    The UK is doing all it can, and the move to relocate hundreds of Afghans, who worked for the British military and government, to the UK has been accelerated. The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Program, supported by Embassies and High Commissions, remains open to eligible applicants.

    GOV.UK

    Metaculus Prediction

    Establishment split

    CRITICAL

    PRO

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