Top UK Special Forces basic oversaw blockading of Afghan ‘war-crime’ witnesses to Britain

A best basic who did not document proof of alleged SAS battle crimes in Afghanistan later oversaw the rejection of masses of UK resettlement packages from Afghan commandos who served with the elite regiment, BBC Panorama can disclose.

Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins led UK Special Forces (UKSF) in Afghanistan at a time when alleged battle crimes have been dedicated. He later appointed a UKSF officer below his command, who had additionally served in Afghanistan, to evaluate the Afghan commando packages after particular forces headquarters was once given a debatable veto over them.

Thousands of packages from people with credible proof of provider with Afghan Special Forces, together with the devices referred to as the Triples, have been then rejected, leaving most of the former commandos on the mercy of the Taliban.

The rejections are debatable as a result of they got here at a time when a judge-led public inquiry in the United Kingdom had begun investigating the SAS for alleged battle crimes on operations on which the Triples have been provide.

If the Afghan commandos have been in the United Kingdom, they may well be referred to as as witnesses – however the inquiry has no energy to compel testimony from international nationals who’re in a foreign country.

Some of the ones denied visas have been due to this fact tortured and killed by way of the Taliban, in keeping with former colleagues, members of the family and attorneys.

According to inside emails and testimony from inside the Ministry of Defence (MoD), acquired by way of Panorama, the United Kingdom Special Forces officer appointed by way of Gen Jenkins stood over civil provider caseworkers from the resettlement scheme and steered them to reject the Triples packages, one after every other, on what resources described as spurious grounds.

A senior executive supply with reference to the method informed the BBC that the United Kingdom Special Forces officer “would never have acted without direction”, including that “everything would have gone through Gwyn Jenkins”.

At the time, in 2021-22, Gen Jenkins was once the top of all UK Special Forces. He is now the manager strategic adviser to the Defence Secretary John Healey and is tipped to take over as First Sea Lord – the top of the Royal Navy.

Gen Jenkins was once made conscious about allegations that the SAS was once committing extrajudicial killings in Afghanistan, however he did not document the allegations to army police – Panorama has up to now published – regardless of a prison legal responsibility to take action. The suspected illegal killings persevered.

Panorama has now heard eyewitness testimony from veterans who served in UK Special Forces detailing alleged battle crimes stretching over greater than a decade and involving the SBS in addition to the SAS.

Gen Jenkins didn’t reply to the BBC’s request for remark in this tale. The MoD replied on his behalf. It mentioned in a remark that there is not any proof it has attempted to forestall former Afghan troops giving proof to the Inquiry and that “anyone can provide evidence… no matter where in the world they are”.

The MoD added that it was once “fully committed to delivering on our pledge to relocate and resettle eligible Afghans and their families to the UK”.

“Each resettlement application is decided on its own merits against the criteria outlined in the ARAP [Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy] and immigration rules,” the remark mentioned.

The rejections of the Triples packages left caseworkers from the ARAP scheme wondering the validity of the method, for the reason that most of the packages contained compelling proof of provider along British particular forces.

One applicant was once rejected even if they’d submitted footage of themselves serving along Gen Jenkins.

Hundreds of rejections have since been overturned following a central authority assessment.

A letter acquired by way of Panorama presentations that issues have been raised amongst cupboard ministers in January 2024 over the lifestyles of the United Kingdom Special Forces’ veto over the Triples packages.

The then Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer wrote to senior Conservatives to mention the function of UKSF in denying the packages was once “deeply inappropriate” and “a significant conflict of interest, that should be obvious to all”.

He have been pressured to write down, he added, as a result of he have been proven proof “that 5 members of these units have been killed having been rejected for resettlement”.

Mr Mercer, who served along the SBS in Afghanistan ahead of turning into an MP, went directly to warn that the function of UKSF within the procedure had a “very high chance of being exposed by the Afghan Inquiry”, which might “lead to serious questions of all those Ministers involved in the process”.

The Triples devices – so-called as a result of their designations have been CF 333 and ATF 444 – have been arrange, skilled, and paid by way of UK Special Forces and supported the SAS and SBS on operations concentrated on Taliban leaders in Afghanistan.

When the rustic fell to the Taliban in 2021, they have been judged to be in grave risk of reprisal and have been entitled to use for resettlement to the United Kingdom.

But, in keeping with MoD paperwork acquired by way of Panorama, 1000’s of ARAP packages containing credible proof of provider along UK Special Forces have been due to this fact rejected.

BBC Panorama first published final yr that it have been UK Special Forces – the very power that skilled and served with the Triples – that confounded them.

“We heard some of our Triples were already killed by the Taliban,” mentioned Jumakhan Joya, a former Afghan particular forces commanding officer. “Some of them are in jail in a Taliban prison. Some of them have already been disabled by the Taliban. They’re breaking their hands, their legs, their head,” he mentioned.

Mr Joya informed the BBC he believed that the lifestyles of the general public inquiry was once the “only reason” their packages have been vetoed.

The rejections and reported reprisals have outraged some former individuals of British particular forces. “What’s happened is horrendous. It is a betrayal and it shames us all,” one former UK Special Forces officer informed Panorama.

Asked by way of Panorama in regards to the executive’s rejection of Triples’ packages, Bruce Houlder KC, who as a former director of provider prosecutions was once answerable for bringing fees towards individuals of the military, mentioned the federal government will have to have identified the Triples would have “highly relevant” proof that will be “much easier to obtain” in the event that they have been in the United Kingdom.

“I can’t think of any fair reason why we should exclude people from their right to live in this country, which is extended to others, simply because they might be in possession of information which would embarrass special forces,” Mr Houlder mentioned.

“If that is the reason, it’s disreputable and it can’t be supported in any way.”

Do you may have details about this tale that you need to percentage?

Get involved the use of SecureDrop, a extremely nameless and safe method of whistleblowing to the BBC which makes use of the TOR community.

Or by way of the use of the Signal messaging app, an end-to-end encrypted message provider designed to give protection to your knowledge.

SecureDrop or Signal: 0044 7714 956 936

Please be aware that the SecureDrop hyperlink will handiest paintings in a Tor browser. For data on retaining safe and nameless, here is some recommendation on learn how to use SecureDrop.

It’s proved a truly essential method for folks to get involved with us up to now.