Interpreters who assisted British forces in Afghanistan have played a fundamental role, standing side by side with those on the frontline of combat. For that we owe a debt of gratitude – one that we are paying, contrary to the claims of Clive Lewis MP (I saw Afghan interpreters translate so much more than words – now they live in terror, 6 August).

There are hundreds of officials working without pause across the country and in Afghanistan to safely and quickly relocate current and former locally employed staff who often risked their lives on our behalf. They are arriving here with their families on a near-daily basis to build a new life. So far, we have enabled over 2,800 people to relocate to Britain, with 1,400 arriving over the last few weeks alone. As we continue to significantly accelerate the pace of relocations due to the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, hundreds more will follow.

We are progressing applications without delay and exploring all avenues to speed up the process. This is being done alongside the indispensable checks necessary to protect national security from those who may seek to abuse our offer.

Far from the government “refusing to grant many of them a right of resettlement”, we have made numerous changes in recent weeks to accommodate more brave individuals, opening our schemes up to those who resigned, those who were dismissed for all but serious or criminal offences, those who worked for contractors, those outside Afghanistan and additional cohorts of family members. The assertion that “bureaucrats in government” are not doing enough is incorrect and offensive.

As for the allegation of racism, this is unfounded, baseless and something we do not need to dignify with a response. As a nation, we are known around the world for our commitment to justice, fairness and sense of duty, especially to those who have stood with us against despicable forces who seek to divide and destabilise. This is why as a government we are strongly committed to honouring our debt to these interpreters.

If Clive Lewis doubts us, he should speak to the thousands of Afghans now enjoying sanctuary in the UK, free from the fear of Taliban reprisal.
Chris Philp
Minister for immigration compliance and justice

*  Missing from Clive Lewis’s passionate article on Afghan interpreters was an important question: what can they do for us now? Arriving daily on our east Kent shores are boat people, and many of them are Afghans. I recently came to know one, a 14-year-old lad who arrived in a rowing boat at the end of a two-and-a-half-year journey covering 10 countries. He was 11 when a neighbour came to the family house telling his father that he had to go and fight the approaching Taliban army. His father was killed the following day. Soon, a Taliban soldier came to their home and told the boy’s mother that he would be back to take the boy to train him to be a Taliban fighter.

The frightened mother sent her son that same night on a journey to a new and better life. After travelling across 10 countries, he arrived in England earlier this year. A medical examination found his body was covered in scars from the repeated beatings he had endured on his journey – he and other refugees weren’t welcomed anywhere. One leg was found to have been broken in three places, leaving him walking with a limp. Some good news has been heard in that his mother is still alive and we believe that she is still living in the same family home – what we don’t know is the fate of his two younger brothers left behind.

He and many others like him have a lot to offer this country and the interpreters could so easily carry out a vital role teaching not just English but also Pashto, aiding their integration into a new society. All that is required is some joined-up thinking by the Home Office.
Barry Young
Margate, Kent

*  I am a solicitor who specialised in assisting and representing refugees and asylum seekers in Merseyside. I retired in April 2020, but I am still working with asylum seekers as a volunteer at Asylum Link Merseyside. I agree with Clive Lewis that Afghan interpreters who have served alongside British forces should not be deserted in their moment of greatest need.

I do, though, wish to highlight the unfortunate condition of many Afghan asylum seekers here in Britain who have been refused international protection by the Home Office and been told that while they might be at risk of persecution by the Taliban in certain areas of Afghanistan, they can safely relocate to Kabul. The withdrawal of US and UK forces from Afghanistan has left such people here in Britain in a terrible dilemma – fearing the consequences of returning to a country that might any day fall to the Taliban.

In mid-July, Sweden announced that it was stopping all deportations to Afghanistan due to the rapidly worsening situation in the war-torn country. Finland has announced a freeze on forced returns to Afghanistan. Kabul has urged European countries to halt forced deportations of Afghan migrants.

The Taliban have already started reimposing repressive laws on women in newly captured areas in Afghanistan and the United Nations high commissioner for refugees has warned of an imminent humanitarian crisis. The Taliban now claim to be in control of 85% of Afghanistan. The British government should not desert these people in their hour of need, but offer them humanity and protection.
Peter Simm
Bebington, Merseyside