LONDON, Jan 30: About 400 Afghan special forces soldiers, who worked with British forces in Afghanistan but were unable to leave the country after the Taliban (under UN sanctions for terrorism) came to power, will be able to enter the United Kingdom after UK authorities decided to review their asylum applications, The Independent newspaper reported on Monday.
The decision by the UK Defense Ministry was preceded by a joint investigation conducted by the newspaper in collaboration with Sky News and the Lighthouse Reports investigative journalism group, which showed that the Taliban allegedly tortured and murdered soldiers because of their links to the UK forces, the report said.
British officials rejected applications from the Afghan soldiers to enter, although they fully met the conditions of the programme for the evacuation of persons collaborating with the UK in Afghanistan, the report said, adding that London ignored the testimony of British servicemen and the presence of British-issued certificates and salary slips.
The newspaper also reported that if granted asylum, Afghan soldiers will be able to give evidence as part of the investigation into alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan by the UK Special Forces between 2010 and 2013. (UNI)
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