Urgent Pleas from Afghan Refugee Family Amid Pakistan Deportations

The son of an Afghan man linked to British special forces pleads for help as his family faces deportation from Pakistan, highlighting the risks and dangers they could encounter upon returning to Afghanistan.

An Afghan man whose personal details were mistakenly leaked in a significant UK data breach is currently detained in Pakistan, where he faces imminent deportation with several family members, according to his son. Documentation reviewed by the BBC confirms that the man is associated with special forces units known as the Triples, who worked closely with British troops in Afghanistan.

As Pakistan ramps up efforts to deport what officials label "illegal foreign nationals," the urgency of this family's situation is heightened. The son of the detained man, who has requested anonymity and is referred to as Rayan for safety reasons, expressed his grave concerns that deporting them to Afghanistan would likely result in their execution owing to his father’s previous military affiliation. Although the Taliban assures that all Afghans can "live in the country without fear," the recently published UN report titled "No Safe Haven" raises skepticism regarding these claims.

The family initiated an application under the UK's Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) shortly after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021. They have been awaiting a decision on their relocation while residing in Pakistan. On the day authorities detained the family, Rayan and his wife managed to avoid capture by hiding in a hotel bathroom, while several relatives were taken into a temporary holding facility.

Describing the chaos, Rayan said, “Some of my family are just children, the youngest is only eight months old, we kept begging the police to leave them.” Some family members reported they were crowded in a room with around 90 others before being singled out for deportation.

Rayan shared that they have been in limbo since October 2024 after providing their biometrics but have received no clear communication regarding their case. He stated, "We have just been waiting with no explanation."

While a Ministry of Defence spokesperson did not comment on specific situations, they reiterated a commitment to supporting eligible individuals for relocation. Concerns are compounded by the fact that the family's details were part of nearly 19,000 Afghans whose information was unintentionally exposed in a data breach in February 2022, deepening fears of vulnerability.

Calvin Bailey, a Labour MP who collaborated with the Afghan Triples as an RAF commander, described the situation as "incredibly upsetting" and urged that the family must receive the support they are owed. The Pakistani government has similarly voiced frustrations over delays in Afghan relocations, emphasizing the need for expedited processes.

Since September 2023, more than one million people have returned to Afghanistan as part of Pakistan's new repatriation plan, raising alarms about the safety of returnees, especially those like Rayan's family, who have significant protection needs. The UN Refugee Agency has called for assurances that any returns are voluntary and conducted in a safe, dignified manner while urging Pakistani authorities to provide exemptions for those facing international protection needs.