The elite soldiers, known as the Triples, had been left to fend for themselves against the vengeful Taliban after Whitehall officials said they did not qualify for help. The soldiers served directly alongside British military personnel during the conflict in Afghanistan, but were originally informed they did not meet the criteria for assistance. Ministers yesterday finally accepted that the Triples were paid by Britain, which owes them a debt of gratitude, after initially telling them they had never worked directly for the UK Government.
They will now be eligible to stay in Britain under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (Arap), subject to visa checks. The scheme was set up in April 2021 to help people who feared their lives were at risk because they had worked with UK armed forces before the Taliban takeover later that year. In 2024, the then-Tory administration conceded some Arap decisions were 'not robust,' and as of Thursday, around 3,300 Triples applications were assessed in total as part of the process.
Triples have paid a dreadful price for their high-profile fight with the Taliban, with several, including senior officers, murdered in revenge, and one former Triple, rejected for relocation, was arrested and tortured by the Taliban. There were claims some British officers sought to prevent Afghans from giving evidence at the inquiry into allegations of war crimes by UK soldiers they served beside.