The Forgotten Britons In Afghanistan: A Year On, Stranded And Seeking Answers

It is unclear exactly how many British citizens are still in Afghanistan. The UK government has not provided a clear answer to this question. However, it is known that the UK government has been working to evacuate British citizens and eligible Afghan nationals from the country since the Taliban's rapid military offensive in August 2021. The UK's Operation Pitting in August 2021 evacuated British citizens and some Afghan nationals, and the Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) was launched in January 2022, aiming to resettle up to 20,000 people over several years. As of early December 2022, no Afghans had been resettled under the ACRS. The Office for National Statistics estimates that there were around 79,000 people born in Afghanistan living in the UK in 2019, with about 49% being British nationals.

British citizens detained in Afghanistan

In February 2022, the UK government stated that a "number" of British nationals were being detained in Afghanistan, adding that they had raised the issue with the Taliban authorities. The government did not specify how many British nationals were being held or by whom. However, Western media reports at the time stated that at least six British citizens were being detained by the Taliban, including journalists Andrew North, formerly of the BBC, and Peter Jouvenal, who has worked with the BBC and CNN. North was in Afghanistan on assignment for the United Nations' refugee agency (UNHCR) and was detained along with another foreign journalist. Both journalists were released shortly after their detention came to light. Jouvenal, a British-German dual national with a long association with Afghanistan, was also released after being held for more than six months.

The detentions of these British citizens marked a sharp escalation of Taliban actions against Westerners living in Afghanistan. No formal charges were lodged against the detained men, and they were reportedly held without charge and with no freedom to contact their families or lawyers. The Taliban government spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, stated that the journalists had been detained for lacking valid identity cards and documents. The UK government welcomed the release of the journalists and four other British men in October 2023, apologising on behalf of their families for any violations of Afghan law.

The detentions occurred during a delicate time in US-Taliban relations, as the Taliban sought recognition as Afghanistan's legitimate government following the withdrawal of US troops. The UK government's response to the detentions highlighted the requirement for British nationals to comply with relevant counter-terrorism legislation and abide by the laws of the country they are visiting. The Taliban's crackdown on dissent and human rights abuses have been widely reported, with a United Nations report recording over 1,600 incidents of rights violations against detainees, including torture and ill-treatment.

The UK's involvement in Afghanistan since 2001 has been significant, with British troops playing a leading role in NATO's efforts to stabilise the country and prevent it from becoming a safe haven for international terrorists. The UK has also supported various projects to improve education, healthcare, economic growth, and local governance. Despite these efforts, the future of Afghanistan remains uncertain, with the Taliban still active and in control of the country.

British citizens evacuated from Afghanistan

The UK's evacuation operation in Afghanistan, Operation Pitting, began in August 2021, following the rapid military offensive by the Taliban to take control of the country. The operation evacuated British citizens and some Afghan nationals to the UK. This included family members of British or Afghan nationals living in the UK, people eligible under relocation schemes for UK government employees, and other particularly vulnerable cases.

The first British repatriation flight from Afghanistan landed at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on 15 August 2021, hours after the Taliban overran Kabul. The evacuation was assisted by members of 16 Air Assault Brigade, who had arrived in Afghanistan the day before.

The UK government has not released the exact number of British citizens who were evacuated from Afghanistan. However, it is estimated that over 15,000 people were evacuated during Operation Pitting, which included British citizens and eligible Afghan nationals.

The UK has also launched the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) in January 2022, aiming to resettle up to 20,000 people over several years. The scheme focuses on granting status to those who have already arrived in the UK, mainly through Operation Pitting. The ACRS is open to Afghans who are particularly at risk, including women, girls, and children.

The UK has played a significant role in Afghanistan since 2001, when British forces were sent as part of a coalition to intervene in Afghanistan and find the leaders of al-Qaeda after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The British Army deployment to Afghanistan has seen more than 100,000 soldiers deployed on various operations. The UK has also supported projects to improve education, healthcare, economic growth, and local governance in Afghanistan.

British citizens eligible for Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme (ACRS)

The UK government launched the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) in January 2022 to provide a safe and legal route for up to 20,000 vulnerable Afghans to resettle in the UK. The scheme is not application-based; instead, eligible individuals are referred through one of three pathways.

Pathway 1

Under Pathway 1, some of those evacuated under Operation PITTING, the UK military evacuation from Afghanistan, will be granted a place on the ACRS. This includes women's rights activists, journalists, and prosecutors, as well as Afghan family members of British nationals. Those who were called forward during the evacuation but were unable to board flights are also eligible under Pathway 1.

Pathway 2

Under Pathway 2, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) refers vulnerable refugees who have fled Afghanistan to the Scheme based on an assessment of protection needs and vulnerabilities.

Pathway 3

Pathway 3 is for eligible at-risk individuals in Afghanistan or the region. In the first year, the government will offer ACRS places to British Council contractors, GardaWorld contractors, and Chevening alumni. Beyond the first year, the government will work with international partners and NGOs to welcome wider groups of Afghans at risk.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the ACRS, individuals must fall under one of the three pathways outlined above. Additionally, they must have links to the UK government, such as British Council teachers, those who fought alongside British Forces, or embassy staff. The scheme also prioritises vulnerable individuals, including women, girls, and members of minority groups at risk, such as ethnic and religious minorities and LGBT+ individuals.

Benefits of the Scheme

Anyone resettled through the ACRS will receive indefinite leave to remain in the UK and will be able to apply for British citizenship after 5 years. They will also have the right to work, access education and healthcare, and apply for public funds. The UK government provides support to help individuals adapt, learn English, find work, and integrate into their local communities.

British troops in Afghanistan

British troops were first deployed to Afghanistan in 2001, in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US. The Taliban regime, which governed Afghanistan from 1996, had sheltered the Al-Qaeda terrorist network responsible for the attacks. The UK joined many other nations in a NATO/ISAF-led military intervention to bring Al-Qaeda's leaders to justice, remove the Taliban from control in Afghanistan, and prevent the country from becoming a safe haven for international terrorists.

By the end of 2001, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan had collapsed, but an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) remained. ISAF's role was to oversee the transition to a new government and provide security for the redevelopment of the war-torn country. The UK became part of this multi-national force, with most troops based in the capital city of Kabul, and a small number in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif.

In 2006, as part of a reorganisation of ISAF (now under NATO control), British troops were sent to the southern province of Helmand. Their intended role was to provide stability and security for reconstruction projects, but their arrival provoked a violent response from a resurgent Taliban. The British troops became engaged in heavy fighting with the Taliban, and casualties were high. In 2009, there were 108 fatalities among British troops, more than twice as many as the previous year.

In 2010, UK troop numbers reached their peak, with around 10,000 deployed across Afghanistan. In 2011, discussions began over the withdrawal of NATO forces, and in 2012, the UK began a process of gradual drawdown of personnel from Afghanistan. In October 2014, the UK's combat mission formally ended, and ISAF withdrew from the country in December 2014.

Since the end of combat operations, British military operations in Afghanistan have focused on training and advisory roles as part of the NATO Resolute Support Mission. British troops are now stationed in Kabul, where they take the lead within the Kabul Security Force, a seven-nation organisation that provides vital force protection for coalition advisors working with Afghan partners. The UK has also continued to provide mentors who work in training and advisory roles within the Afghan National Army Officers' Academy and other Afghan institutions.

In August 2021, British military personnel arrived in Afghanistan as part of a multinational non-combatant evacuation operation, code-named Operation Pitting, to evacuate British and eligible Afghan nationals from Kabul following the rapid military offensive by the resurgent Taliban to take control of the country.

British Afghans

The first Afghan immigrants to the UK were students, businesspeople, and Afghan government officials. Later, significant numbers came in the form of refugees. The first large wave of Afghan immigrants to the UK were political refugees fleeing the 1980s communist regime, with others coming in the early 1990s to escape the Mujahideen. The number skyrocketed later that decade due to the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The UK government has announced two schemes to support Afghan nationals: the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). The former offers relocation or other assistance to former Locally Employed Staff (LES) in Afghanistan and was launched on April 1, 2021. The latter was formally opened on January 6, 2022, and provides resettlement in the UK for Afghans who worked for or were linked to the British government's presence in the country.

Since the fall of Kabul in August 2021, 22,833 people have arrived in the UK from Afghanistan, and nearly all of them had at least one family member who served with the British authorities. Of these, about 9,000 are still living in temporary accommodation. Many Afghan refugees have been housed in "bridging hotels," which are run by the Home Office and were booked in August 2021 when the evacuation began. However, the reality for those living in these hotels is far from luxurious, with limited access to extra services and facilities.

The UK has played a significant role in Afghanistan since 2001, when British forces were sent as part of a coalition to intervene in Afghanistan and find the leaders of al-Qaeda after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. British troops are now stationed in Kabul, where they take a leading role in operations and work to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorism.

Frequently asked questions