THE UK Special Forces (UKSF) rejected the resettlement applications of more than 2,000 Afghan commandos who fought alongside British troops against the Taliban, the BBC reported today.

The commandos, known as Triples, were in elite units called CF333 and ATF 444, which were set up and funded by UKSF.

After the Taliban claimed control of Afghanistan in 2021, Triples became eligible for resettlement in Britain.

But the BBC reported that it was not able to find any evidence that UKSF supported any of the applications.

When it asked the MoD if UKSF had supported any applications, it declined to answer the question.

An inquiry into alleged war crimes by British forces in Afghanistan is currently ongoing.

If resettled, the former commanders would have been compelled to provide evidence to the inquiry. 

Last year, Lighthouse Reports obtained leaked documents which showed that UKSF had been given the power to veto applications.

It revealed that since at least 2023, applications reaching a basic threshold were sent to UKSF for approval.

The MoD denied the existence of the veto, with then-defence minister Andrew Murrison eventually admitting that the government had misled Parliament.

The MoD said it began a review of the rejected applications last year, but it is still yet to complete it despite promising that it would take 12 weeks.

A legal challenge brought by a former member of the Triples who is now in Britain — on behalf of those still in Afghanistan — was heard in court his month and confirmed that over 2,000 applications had been rejected, the BBC said.

The legal challenge will look at the decision not to inform applicants whether their case is being reviewed or disclose the selection criteria.

Mike Martin MP, a member of the defence select committee, told the BBC: “There is the appearance that UK Special Forces blocked the Afghan special forces applications because they were witnesses to the alleged UK war crimes currently being investigated in the Afghan inquiry.

“If the MoD is unable to offer any explanation, then the matter should be included in the inquiry.”

Many former commandos are in hiding in Afghanistan, which makes it challenging for them to follow up on their cases with the MoD.

An investigation by the Independent found that dozens had been beaten, tortured and killed.

“Although decisions have been overturned, it's too late for some people,” a former Triples officer told the BBC.

“The delays have caused a lot of problems. People have been captured by the Taliban or lost their lives.”

“If Special Forces made these rejections they should say why. They should have to answer.”

An MOD spokesperson said: “There is no evidence to support these claims and no blanket eligibility decisions have ever been made on specific cohorts. Each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

“We remain fully committed to delivering on our pledge to relocate and resettle eligible Afghans and their families to the UK through our Afghan resettlement schemes.

"Each resettlement application is decided and scrutinised on its own merits against the criteria outlined in the ARAP and immigration rules, which are published online. All eligibility decisions are made against published policy considering the individual circumstances of the applicant in line with UK Immigration Rules.