More than 1,200 UK-eligible Afghans housed in Pakistan after fleeing Taliban
The Ministry of Defence says it is accommodating 1,276 Afghans eligible for relocation to the UK, after they fled to Pakistan following the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.
Under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme, those who worked alongside British forces in Afghanistan can apply to relocate with their family.
The latest figures which were released in response to a written question, show that more than half of those awaiting commercial flights from Pakistan are under the age of 18.
Dan Jarvis, Labour MP for Barnsley Central, and a former British Army officer in the Parachute Regiment, asked: "How many Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) eligible Afghan nationals are in British High Commission-funded hotels in Islamabad as of 15 May; and how many of those are under 18-years-old?"
In response, Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said: "As of 16 May 2023, 1,276 ARAP eligible people are currently accommodated by the British High Commission in Islamabad. Of these, 686 ARAP-eligible individuals are under the age of 18.
"We continue to accommodate and support ARAP-eligible people in Pakistan while they await relocation to the UK.
"When relocation becomes possible for individuals or family groups, we use commercial flights to bring individuals to the UK."
It comes after filmmaker Guy Ritchie described the denial of safe passage to the UK for some Afghans who served alongside British forces as "morally reprehensible" and the MOD apologised for telling Afghan interpreters to get the Taliban's permission to come to the UK.
Last year Mr Heappey said there is "no time limit" on how long the MOD will continue to relocate people from Afghanistan.
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