Over 80 Afghan teachers who worked for Brits are still hiding from Taliban
It is a stark photograph that might be dubbed the 'Class of 2021' - a frightened group of schoolteachers left to the mercy of the Taliban after spreading education at the behest of the UK.
The Mirror can reveal they are among more than 80 Afghan teachers who worked for the British Council and remain abandoned overseas two years after the country's fall to the Islamic fundamentalists.
Some of the recruits, who taught British culture and values (equality, diversity and inclusion), have suffered violent physical abuse as a direct result of their work, while others have been accused of spying for the UK. Many had worked on controversial programmes, such as 'English for Religious Leaders' and 'English for Civil Servants', making them a target within their own communities.
Following the Taliban's takeover, the UK Government launched the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) - designed to evacuate translators and other staff. At the time, then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to "do whatever we can" and "shift heaven and earth" to get out anyone who might qualify but hadn't managed to escape.
But two years later, over 30 of the former teachers are still in hiding in Afghanistan, while another 50 are trapped in cramped hotels after fleeing across the border to Pakistan. In the meantime, many of their visas have expired, effectively rendering them as "prisoners" who are unable to step outside, and facing deportation.
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Many of the teachers worked on controversial programmes, such as 'English for Religious Leaders' and 'English for Civil Servants' (@AtRiskTeachers/Twitter)The concerning reports come as Pakistan's government announces a major crackdown on migrants in the country illegally, saying it would expel them starting next month and raising alarm among foreigners without documentation who include an estimated 1.7 million Afghans.
One teacher has been stuck in a hotel in Islamabad since February this year. She is pregnant with her first child, having lost her previous two pregnancies to miscarriage. With her baby due in November, she told the Mirror: "I’m desperate for the UK Government to fulfil their promise and get us to safety.
"It’s so difficult for me here, trapped in a hotel in Pakistan. I can’t go out in case the police deport me back to Afghanistan and the Taliban. I feel stuck and life seems hopeless. I’m so worried about my baby." Another former teacher has been in hiding in Afghanistan for two years, and is hoping the British Council will support her in obtaining the necessary travel documents.
One ex-British Council worker, who is pregnant, has been stuck in a hotel in Islamabad since February this year (Supplied)
Another former teacher fled Afghanistan after repeated threats from the Taliban (Supplied)She said: "I am in great danger in Afghanistan. I don’t know why the UK Government has left us in danger for the last 2 years. The danger I am facing is because of my work for the British Council. I really hope I can get to safety soon.” In January last year - five months after British troops left Kabul - the Home Office opened its Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS).
The programme prioritised Afghans who “assisted UK efforts” or stood up for democracy, women’s rights, free speech and the rule of law, as well as women, girls and minority groups. British Council Workers who were unable to escape previously are being considered under the scheme.
A former English Manager at British Council Afghanistan has pleaded to "make the ACRS scheme work effectively" (@AtRiskTeachers/Twitter)One former teacher said he fled Afghanistan after repeated threats from the Taliban, escaping first to Iran and then Azerbaijan. The recruit was told by the British Council that he could apply to the ACRS scheme from Azerbaijan. However, the Foreign Office rejected him - because he applied from Azerbaijan.
Now back in hiding in Afghanistan, he said: “I keep asking the British Council for help but they say they cannot help me. I am at risk because of my work for them, yet they say they can’t do anything to help."
Two years later, over 30 of the former teachers are still in hiding in Afghanistan (@AtRiskTeachers/Twitter)Joe Seaton, former English Manager and Deputy Director at British Council Afghanistan, has now pleaded with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to "make the ACRS scheme work effectively". He told the Mirror: "As a former colleague and manager of these teachers, I am very disappointed with the way the British Government and British Council have treated them.
"They did excellent work for us, at our request, in difficult and dangerous circumstances. They were unfairly excluded from the first relocation scheme (ARAP), and the second scheme is so ineffective that since its launch only 4 teachers have been relocated to the UK, with over 80 still waiting in dreadful conditions.
Another 50 are trapped in cramped hotels after fleeing across the border to Pakistan (@AtRiskTeachers/Twitter)"The danger they are in is as a direct result of the work they did for us. Rishi Sunak needs to do much more to make the ACRS scheme work effectively, and the British Council need to do much more to support their former teachers, until they get to safety."
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In response, the British Council said it is "deeply concerned" by the length of time it is taking for ACRS applications to reach the UK. A spokesperson said: "We have done, and continue to do, everything in our power to get our former colleagues out of Afghanistan.
The teachers say they are at risk because of the work they have done for the UK (@AtRiskTeachers/Twitter)"The ACRS scheme is run by the UK Government. The British Council is not involved in decision making in any way. The majority of our former contractors who applied to ACRS are still in Afghanistan or third countries. We are incredibly concerned for them and for their families’ welfare and well-being.
"Whilst we are relieved that a number of our former contractors and their families have been recently informed by the UK government that they are eligible for relocation to the UK, we are deeply concerned by the length of time it is taking for their ACRS applications to be progressed and for them to reach the UK. We are pushing for urgent progress with senior contacts within the UK Government".
Many of the ex-teachers have become a target within their own communities (@AtRiskTeachers/Twitter)A Home Office spokesperson added: "Our staff worked tirelessly to evacuate over 15,000 people within a fortnight in the biggest UK mission of its kind in generations and continue to work hard to resettle eligible people from Afghanistan. Since April 2021, around 24,600 Afghans have been brought to safety including those who served the UK and others identified as at-risk.
"We remain committed to supporting at-risk Afghans, including by providing a safe and legal route for 20,000 people to resettle in the UK under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme. Under Pathway 3, we are offering resettlement to up to 1,500 people including British Council contractors at risk."
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