Abandoning the Afghan war hero who fought with British forces is an intolerable injustice
It is doubly shameful that an Afghan pilot who fought alongside British forces – and who must remain anonymous for safety reasons – has not had his contribution recognised by the British government, and that his case has had to be taken up by the United States. It is an intolerable injustice and an embarrassment, but The Independent will continue to campaign for him, and assemble a formidable coalition to fight for him, until ministers do the right thing – for as long as it takes.
Although this air force lieutenant did not serve directly in the British forces deployed to Afghanistan during the long campaign against the Taliban, he served alongside them, and flew missions planned by the British and the Americans, displaying the same bravery and risking his life in the same way as his allied comrades. Indeed, as an Afghan national, he and his family might well have been shown less mercy if captured.
In the heat of battle in Helmand province and elsewhere, the British authorities weren’t zealous about drawing petty distinctions. His fight was our fight. Now, though, because of the narrow way in which the Arap (Afghan relocations and assistance policy) scheme has been drawn up, our Afghan hero is very much on his own. So is his family back home.
