PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Mohammed Nabi Wardak (1 November 2018)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will reassess the case of Afghan interpreter Mohammed Nabi Wardak who translated for British armed forces on the front line in Helmand province between 2008 and 2011 and has been denied relocation to the UK.

Asked by:
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour)

The Ministry of Defence is unable to comment on specific cases. The Government recognises the vital role local staff played in operations in Afghanistan. Over 440 former staff who were made redundant after working for 12 months on the front line with our soldiers in Helmand are currently entitled to apply for visas to relocate with their immediate families to the UK; 1,255 staff and immediate family are now settled in the UK, including a number who were discharged with life-changing injuries; a small number remain to be relocated over the next few months.

More widely, we are the only nation with an expert team based in Kabul to investigate the concerns of former staff who are threatened because of their work with the UK. Any former staff who experience intimidation within Afghanistan because of their employment with the UK are strongly encouraged to contact the Intimidation Investigation Unit based in Kabul. Where employment-related intimidation is found, we will take steps to address the risk including security advice, relocation in country where this is needed, and relocation to UK where other measures will not resolve the risk.

Former staff who wish to claim asylum are subject to Home Office immigration policies.

Answered by:
Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative)
8 November 2018