Victory for Afghan translators: Three heroes who helped British troops on battlefield are finally granted permission to relocate to UK
Britain’s longest-serving military translator in Afghanistan is to be granted sanctuary in the UK in a major victory for the Daily Mail.
Ricky, 37, has worked with British troops for more than 18 years and two years ago survived a Taliban ambush near his home.
He is among three of the military’s most trusted and experienced translators who were told last week they were eligible for relocation to Britain with their families.
Ricky: ‘An enormous sense of relief’
The decision marks a significant relaxation of policy by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace to allow ‘discretion’ to be used when examining the cases of translators who say they are targets of a resurgent Taliban because of their work with the UK military.
The three – Ricky, Fardin, 39, and Hedayatullah, 33 – were previously told they did not qualify to come to the UK because they had not served a minimum of a year on the frontlines in Helmand and resigned or been made redundant.
A Whitehall source said yesterday their time in Helmand, although less than a year, had been taken into account, as was their length of service with the British military.
Mr Wallace had asked officials to apply the criteria on Helmand ‘more loosely’ to let more interpreters in on a case-by-case basis.
Translators said last night it would give ‘hope to many still in danger’ and that they too would be ‘given the chance to build a safe life away from insurgent assassins’.
Ricky, a father-of-five whose children will join him, said: ‘I am thrilled by this decision and thank the British Government and the Defence Secretary from the bottom of my heart for recognising my loyal service and the very real dangers we are in.
‘I would like to thank the Daily Mail too because they have never given up on me or the translators and I firmly believe this would not have happened without their determined and outstanding work and friendship. It will never be forgotten by translators.’
This newspaper’s award-winning Betrayal of the Brave campaign, backed by top military figures and MPs, has highlighted the cases of the three translators and called for them to be given sanctuary from the Taliban.
Two years ago Ricky was ambushed by two Taliban gunmen as he returned from work with British soldiers to his home in the Afghan capital Kabul.
Fardin: ‘Happiest day of my life’
Four bullets smashed into his vehicle, narrowly missing him as he dived for cover.
Last month he wrote to Mr Wallace appealing for him to ‘right the injustice of Britain’s refusal to recognise my service and sacrifices’.
Last night Ricky, who still works with UK forces, said: ‘An enormous sense of relief, calm and excitement has replaced fear and the uncertainty of my wife wondering each time I go out if I will return home.’
All three translators were among 48 cases the Mail highlighted in August when we documented the plight of interpreters who felt they had been ‘abandoned’ to the Taliban which condemned them as ‘spies’.
Hedayatullah: Cleared to enter UK
Six weeks later, the Government announced a new policy allowing translators who had served on the frontline for 18 months – later changed to a year – and resigned to apply for relocation.
So far, more than a dozen of the 48 have been told they can build a new life in the UK.
Speaking from Kabul, Fardin, who still works with the British military, said: ‘When I heard my case had been approved, it was the happiest day of my life.
‘I thank Mr Wallace and the Government for being generous to us but I want to especially thank you the for never-ending hard work to see that justice and honour are done.’