The Ministry of Defence has ended in-country assistance for Afghans moving out of Afghanistan under the Afghan Resettlement Programme, requiring eligible individuals to make their own way to a third country, as the government works to conclude the programme within this Parliament.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard told Parliament on 28 April that the decision followed evidence of increasing numbers of eligible Afghans successfully self-moving to third countries, taken after careful assessment of risks and value for money.
“Having seen increased evidence of successful self-moves and after assessing carefully again the risks to this cohort and other factors, including the value for money for the taxpayer, we have decided to end in-country assistance for movements out of Afghanistan,” he said. Once individuals reach a safe third country, Pollard said, “we maintain provision of our current support until 2028.”
The outstanding application pipeline has fallen from approximately 25,000 to fewer than 17,000 since all schemes were closed to new applicants in July 2025, with the MoD aiming to have made all decisions on the current caseload by spring next year. Pollard said the government estimates fewer than 9,000 eligible persons remain to be relocated, in part because “we are finding far fewer applicants meet the eligibility criteria than in the years after the scheme opened.”
Two significant structural changes were also set out. The MoD will enforce the existing immigration rules requirement for eligible individuals to attend a visa application centre appointment within 12 months, save for exceptional circumstances. A backstop of December 2028 will also be introduced for MoD support in third countries. Pollard was direct about what this means: “save for exceptional circumstances, December 2028 will therefore mark the end of relocations to the UK.”
On accommodation, the MoD has ceased running transitional sites on the defence estate, with the small number of Afghans remaining in transitional accommodation now supported by local authorities. Service family accommodation properties currently used as settled accommodation are to have their use ended by 2028, and two of six hotels procured to support transitional pressures will have closed by this May.
Pollard thanked local government partners for their role, saying he wanted “to thank our partners in local government and other supportive local organisations, who have, and continue to provide critical support to eligible Afghans in the resettlement process.” He said he remained confident in progress toward concluding central government delivery of the programme “well before the end of this Parliament.”
For interest, many were accommodated at MoD Garrats Hay, a vacant CSOC site which in a previous life was the Welbeck Defence 6th form College. Further back, Cold War types in the sneaky beaky Y services were in Beaumanor next door.
The sites now part of the MIS estate, I assume the new location of the DI Academy.
Hope they’ve checked the walls for bugs!
Beaumanor was a SIGINT outpost for Beltchley Park.
Exactly. Signals Intelligence, thus “Y Services”
It moved to Chicksands, along with the Intelligence Corps from Templeford barracks Ashford, and is/was, the Defence Special Signals School, part of the DI Academy.
I think it might now have changed name again ( shock, a rebranding ) as Signals Int Training Wing.
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umm mixed views on this, right we helped those that helped us but the sheer numbers are over the top, as always good idea right thing to do, high jacked by the fakes, civil rights bent lawyers. Sadly some good people would have missed out and some lets say less than honest people will be paid for, Always hard to get it right.
Hope that draws a line under a totally sad conflict with no winners just sadness and grief, yet again we followed the USA. Who then jacked us out and left in a rush with out telling any one, but left behind all the kit for the Enemy, And they are our Allie?
The scheme probably went on too long at this point, if the Taliban haven’t got any body by now then they are highly unlikely to.
We need to get past our issues with the “Taliban”. The people in charge today are not the people we started fighting in 2001 no matter what they call themselves. They are the defacto Afghanistan government largely chosen by the people of Afghanistan. If the Afghans had wanted it differently they would have put up a fight instead of melting away.
Ultimately we need to reopen relations with the Taliban. We need to start sending people back to Afghanistan. If that means paying the Taliban then so be it but it’s highly likely that Afghan asylum seekers are a much bigger risk to the UK than the Taliban especially if people are allowed permanent settlement.
We can and should put a distinction for people who actually fought in uniform on our side but that’s a fraction of the thousands of would be “translators” and NGO workers claiming asylum.
what a delusional take Jim truly, if you think that these people you “send” back won’t be executed by the Taliban then you are sadly mistaken. They are here to stay
That might well be true, but I think Jim’s spot on regards this one.
Truly worrying the state of this country when people are seriously considering a “relationship” with a terrorist regime that killed hundreds of british soldiers simply because of the “anti immigration” bandwagon sweeping across Great Britain
“anti immigration” bandwagon.
Too easy tarring all with the same brush.
A few thoughts on each of your points?
On immigration, especially when there are those abusing the system, as seen with both the afghan situation and more widely, and when the numbers are too high and include those with no right to be here. Quite normal in all nations and there is no reason why the UK should be any different. Any denials of that is pure head in the clouds stuff. Which is why Reform are rising and the immigration issue is such a hot subject, it will not go away until the establishment listen.
On Afghans and immediate family who either fought alongside or translated for British forces, there is not a problem. Such as the well regarded “Triples” who’s skills as far as I’m concerned should be used and respected, like the Gurkhas.
On the “relationship” well Jim did not say that, did he? He said “relations” with.
In the Iliad, Priam said “even enemies can show respect” and it is true, what is to be gained by not talking?
Another thought “keep your friends close and your enemies closer” also springs to mind. With Russia, I fully approve of Trump talking with that Putin, what is the advantage not talking?
On China, our enemy on various levels, there is talking.
Respect is free.
On Jim’s send them back to Afghan, I’m not so convinced that they’d be safe, no more than the poor Cossacks were in Italy and Austria.
The whole thing was an absolutely ridiculous situation.
The leak using an excel spreadsheet.
Allowing everyone an their dog to come into the UK.
As you say people who were at real risk like the triples not a problem.
A lot of the others and their ‘cousins’ we have imported massive problems for ourselves.
Careful….you’ll be accused of “racism” or being a “Nazi” with that talk.
I agree, SB.
The UK is NOT some open hotel for the world no matter how much the left wish it so.
Wanting immigration controls is NOT racist, neither is wanting Afghans who have no right to be here removed from the system or the country.
Family is fine, so, a wife and kids, or is that all brothers, sisters, aunties, uncles, cousins, grandparents. How far does that go?
I’ll say with confidence that the Home Office won’t say and probably don’t have a clue.
UK citizenship isn’t for the world….
It is earned.
I do wish the left would understand that in order to support the genuine cases of hardship the volumes need to be reduced. All of the countries systems are overwhelmed at present.
For any asylum seeker, regardless of country of origin, family should be spouse and immediate children, and no more.
No HMOs or Hotels full of illegals near you then?
Problem is the Taliban is not exactly a regime, it’s a word and we killed thousands of Taliban including everyone responsible for 9 11. Is it is a terrorist organisation in the true sense? Al Qaeda certainly was the Taliban is more or a gray area.
We fought many wars against “terrorists” like shin feinn, the IRA and the American revolutionary government but at some point the wars over and you have to put the past behind you.
Do we intend never ending animosity towards the defacto government of Afghanistan. Is our animosity achieving anything or is it just making the people of Afghanistans lives worse.
There are thousands of people coming to the UK most with nothing to do with UK forces the Taliban won’t execute them.
Agreed.
Well said Jim
If everyone who was claimed to be working for the coalition forces was genuine, every coalition so,died woukd have had his own platoon of interpreters
. FFS, we even have rather obvious African gentlemen dans Calais claiming to be ‘interpreters’ and wanted by the Talibs
Next war we will have Google translate. The ratio of translation to troops is excessive.
Sorry but Afghans are the worst people on the planet. The things people saw there were beyond discussion. Their behavior since arriving has been dreadfull. We shouldn’t accept a single one. Worst soldiers i have ever seen aswell, absolute shite.
‘Worst soldiers i have ever seen aswell, absolute shite.’
Never worked with the French then? 😛
Hahaha no they never went out at night like the Germans
Its right that we help those at risk for helping us (regardless of the rights or wrongs of being there).
I would question however, if uk giv was able to provide in country support to these people, were they truly at risk? Ie, if the taliban wanted to hurt them, why would they have allowed uk gov to operate in Afg, and why are the people we helping not already harmed?
Similar question surrounds afg nationals previously granted protection by western states, whom were back in Afghanistan when the taliban retook control. If you were so afraid of Taliban, why were you back there?
That region is just a cauldron of tribalist feuds controlled by warlords.
The US/Europeans are long gone, but now we have the Afghanistan–Pakistan war happening,
the media focus on Iran has made sure this war goes mostly unnoticed.
No idea what the path to peace would be, maybe to break Afghanistan up into smaller countries based on tribal/cultural influence?
I don’t think anyone can unite Afghanistan.
Afghan is tribal. Any foreign powers who come are obliged to leave. It’s the history. Yup we could take out training camps and restrict it that.