Fury of the translators ‘abandoned to Taliban’
A FORMER interpreter who was shot on the frontline by the Taliban has accused Britain of condemning translators to die by not making their rescue a priority.
Roohullah, who worked for five years with UK forces, said he almost gave his life to Britain but has been left behind.
He is one of two ex-translators who are still in Afghanistan that have claimed that local security staff took bribes from Afghans to prioritise them access into Kabul airport. Their allegations are said to be supported by two former interpreters who are now in quarantine hotels in the UK.
It came as Britain’s evacuation from Kabul concluded with the departure of the last remaining military and diplomatic personnel.
The UK’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Sir Laurie Bristow, touched down in Britain yesterday after leading the operation in Kabul. He returned on a Voyager aircraft, which landed in Oxfordshire, alongside 250 troops. Speaking on the runway, he said: ‘We will do everything we can to... help the Afghan people achieve the security and the peace they deserve.’
Meanwhile, the two interpreters said payments of up to £727 exchanged hands between Afghans to allow those with visas to escape the crush around the airport. Exinterpreter Hussain, 48, said: ‘These people bought their way into the airport while those of us who risked our lives and tried often to be allowed in with the correct papers were turned away.’
Roohullah, 32, added: ‘Interpreters are among the most vulnerable people because they were widely known by the Taliban. Yet many of us have been left while those who risked nothing for the British were allowed to escape. I almost gave my life for Britain but they left me.’
The father of a young daughter, Roohullah was approved for sanctuary in Britain in June and was called to Kabul airport – but he claims he was turned back despite showing his authorisation code.
Three other interpreters still in Kabul echoed Roohullah’s anger that while the RAF flew 15,000 back to the UK, including 8,000 Afghans, many of those rescued had taken little risk and did not previously work on the frontline.
Adding to the frustration is that many still have not heard anything from the UK. Some yesterday received a short email from British officials telling them there were no more flights.
It came as it was claimed that the UK may have left as many as 9,000 Afghans behind after ending its evacuation from Kabul.
Ministers insist only 1,000 were not evacuated as part of Operation Pitting, which finished at the weekend.
But now it has been suggested that between 8,000 and 9,000 who could have been eligible for rescue have been left behind.
Meanwhile, a whistleblower revealed that thousands of emails to the Foreign Office detailing cases of Afghans trying to escape have not been read. An official email address used to collate potential cases from MPs and others regularly contained 5,000 unread emails throughout last week, The Observer reported.
‘I almost gave my life to Britain’