https://arab.news/8zugp
- Move to resettle 5,000 people who worked for British forces implemented in October
- Scale of Operation Lazurite kept secret by previous govt over immigration concerns
LONDON: The UK has secretly brought more than 5,000 Afghans to Britain since last October, The Times reported.
Dubbed Operation Lazurite, the mission involved moving former military personnel, intelligence assets and their families out of Afghanistan and offering them accommodation at military sites across the UK. Those evacuated include 150 Afghans who worked directly for the intelligence services.
A Whitehall source told The Times that the number of those resettled had been hushed up by the previous Conservative government as it wished to appear strong on lowering immigration figures.
Around 4,000 of those moved to the UK were stuck in hotels in Pakistan paid for by London, with another 1,000 having to travel to Pakistan on passports issued by the Taliban shortly after the operation began.
Many of those who reached the UK left their homeland because of Taliban threats against them.
They joined the roughly 27,000 Afghans who had already been brought to the UK after the Taliban takeover in August 2021 following the withdrawal of US-led coalition troops earlier that year.
The Whitehall source said security checks are being conducted quickly before accommodation is offered to evacuees, with 700 homes having been allocated so far.