SPECIAL AFGHAN SERVICE
Brits airlift local special forces to aid terror fight
HUNDREDS of elite Afghan special forces troops are being secretly airlifted to the UK to form highly-trained counter-terror units.
Close to 100 of the commandos were evacuated to Britain at the weekend and will be mentored by the SAS and Paras.
The troops from the Afghan National Army will work closely within UK special forces here and abroad.
Sources say the commandos will be embedded with Brits on future topsecret missions in Afghanistan.
It is understood some will be deployed in the UK on counter-terror and undercover missions.
A highly-placed source said: “Millions have been spent getting these Afghan troops up to a very high standard.
“They will be invaluable to the UK in hazardous missions in Afghanistan.
“They know the ground better than anyone and they have been fighting terrorism in Afghanistan for many years.
“British forces did not want [these] skills to go to waste if al-Qaeda and Islamic State grow in Afghanistan.
“One of the few good things to come out of this fiasco is that we will now have a highly capable local force at our disposal to use against those networks.
“And after witnessing what is unfolding under Taliban rule, they are certainly not lacking in motivation.”
There are warnings Isis may be trying to get people on UK-bound flights at Kabul airport during the chaotic evacuation and that its suicide bombers could attack the crowds there.
A source said: “Ironically, the only thing standing between the Paras and Islamic State bombers is the Taliban and if this uneasy co-operation between the UK and new Kabul rulers comes unstuck, all hell could let loose.”
Defence Minister James Heappey said: “There are people in Kabul trying to get on to British flights that we have identified as being on the UK no-fly list.”
At the capital Kabul yesterday, there was reportedly a firefight between unknown gunmen and US and German troops.
It is suspected a sniper outside the airport opened fire at them, sparking fears of an eruption of violence between Taliban and coalition forces.
Three wounded Afghan guards were treated at hospital.
As chaos continued to blight the evacuation effort, a British man stuck in Kabul told how the Taliban bludgeoned him with AK-47 rifle butts.
Zaitullah Tarakhel, from Preston, Lancashire, had returned to Afghanistan to see family when he was caught up in the turmoil. He said about 40 other Brits are stranded with him near a hotel next to the airport.
He added: “The British consulate advised me to head to the hotel where officials would help me get out. But when I left my hiding place, I was stopped by a Taliban patrol. When they saw my passport, they hit me on the head with their AK-47s but I was still able to make my way to the hotel. They let me go. I am very frightened.”
The Ministry of Defence said last night the UK military evacuation of Afghans and Brits has extracted 7109 people from Kabul. Thousands have gathered at the airport, hoping to flee after the Taliban captured the city on August 15. Twenty people have been killed in the mayhem at the airport.
Sources say members of 2 Para are being guided by former troops from the Parachute Regiment on the whereabouts of stricken Afghans who worked with UK forces. The Paras are then undertaking hazardous missions to take the Afghans to the airport.
A senior officer said: “We’re doing all we can to help those with whom we formed bonds.”
In the bid for an alternative rescue point to Kabul airport, the US set out a daring plan to drop 2000 troops into disused Bagram airport 20 miles from the capital.
The idea was axed due to the risk of defending such a large area.