‘It’s a joke’: left-behind Afghans despair at dog rescue revelations

British citizens and dual nationals boarding a military plane at Kabul airport in August. Despite years of service, Asif was told he was ineligible for refuge in the UK because he was a contractor rather than a direct employee. Photograph: LPhot Ben Shread/Ministry of Defence/EPA

Afghans who worked for the British but were not able to get on flights out of Kabul said the revelation that Boris Johnson appears to have personally approved the evacuation of animals last August added to their pain and despair.

“People have died in Afghanistan, because of their connections to the UK, but the prime minister was just allowing animals to get out of there,” said Asif*, a senior adviser to British aid projects for several years. “It is like a joke. I see now that animals have a higher value than us.”