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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Danya Hajjaji

MoD apologises for asking Afghans to get Taliban’s approval to come to UK

A full flight by Members of the UK Armed Forces who continue to take part in the evacuation of entitled personnel from Kabul airport
Afghans eligible for the Arap scheme but unable to leave on an evacuation flight in 2021 were told they needed to visit Taliban-run government departments to get documents validated. Photograph: Newspix International

The Ministry of Defence has apologised after an investigation found Afghan applicants to a resettlement scheme were told they could only come to the UK if their documents were approved by the Taliban.

The Independent revealed that the mistake affected applicants to the Afghan relocations and assistance policy scheme (Arap), which aims to relocate Afghan citizens who worked with the UK government or helped its armed forces in Afghanistan. The MoD decides which applicants – who may apply with their families – are eligible for relocation to Britain.

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