AN AFGHAN interpreter has launched legal action against the Home Office after officials rejected his application for resettlement in Britain despite it being approved by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). 

The man, who worked for both British and US forces between 2011 and 2016, is now stuck in Afghanistan, where he was shot and wounded three weeks ago by Taliban forces at Kabul airport. 

He has since been in hiding and said that he fears for his life and his family.

The 38-year-old, who has not been named for safety reasons, was accepted on the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (Arap) scheme by the MoD in May. 

But two months, later his application was rejected by the Home Office.

In a letter to the man, the department said that his “presence in the UK has been assessed as not conducive to the public good on grounds of national security due to [his] conduct, character and associations.”

The 38-year-old had previously been put on a US watch list after disclosing that his extended family includes members of the Taliban, but he was later removed from the list and went on to work for the British army, according to his lawyer Rehana Popal. 

The specialist immigration barrister said that the Home Office had refused to explain its decision or to give further explanation of why it considers him dangerous. 

The interpreter, represented by Ms Popal, is now challenging the decision in the High Court, with a hearing expected later this month. 

She said today: “There are about a dozen of these individuals who are in the same position and there is a serious question of injustice here.

“While I accept the Home Office will have to ensure they uphold national security, it’s hard for individuals who fought alongside British soldiers on the front line and have put their lives on the line.”