The son of an Afghan man, whose information was leaked in a significant UK data breach, fears for his family's life as they face deportation from Pakistan. Despite applying for relocation under UK protection policies, the family remains stuck amidst Pakistan's crackdown on undocumented foreigners.
Imminent Deportation Threatens Life of Afghan Special Forces Family in Pakistan
Imminent Deportation Threatens Life of Afghan Special Forces Family in Pakistan
An Afghan family faces imminent deportation from Pakistan, risking their safety after their details were leaked in a UK data breach revealing their ties to British forces.
An Afghan man, whose personal details were inadvertently exposed in a UK data breach, is at acute risk should he be deported back to Afghanistan from Pakistan, according to his son speaking with the BBC. The man has been detained along with several family members as Pakistan ramps up its efforts to expel what it terms "illegal foreign nationals." The documents reviewed by the BBC reveal that the man served in special forces units that collaborated with British military operations in Afghanistan, known as the Triples.
The urgency of the situation escalates with the Taliban's claims of providing safety to all Afghans, which a recent UN report has questioned, suggesting no true "safe haven" exists under the current regime. After the Taliban regained control in August 2021, the family applied for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) designed to protect those who aided UK forces, but they remain in limbo.
Rayan, whose name has been altered for security reasons, shared his distressing experience of hiding to escape the police raids that detained several of his relatives. His family's uncertainty stretches back to October 2024 when they were recorded for relocation, but no further action has been taken. "We have just been waiting with no explanation," he lamented.
Statements from the Ministry of Defence indicate their commitment to relocating eligible individuals; however, the lack of individual case commentary complicates matters. The family’s plight has been amplified by the risk posed by the data breach, affecting nearly 19,000 Afghan applicants.
Labour MP Calvin Bailey, who once served with the Triples, expressed his deep concern, emphasizing the duty to assist those who served alongside British forces. Pakistan's government, frustrated by the slow pace of resettlement, has seen over a million individuals return to Afghanistan under its "Illegal Foreigners' Repatriation Plan" since its launch in September 2023, amidst ongoing police actions and deportations.
The UN Refugee Agency has issued calls for Pakistan to ensure safe and voluntary returns for Afghans still in need of international protection, highlighting the precarious situation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan today.
