Written evidence submitted by The Daily Mail

Following the Committee’s hearing this week, we would like to submit the statement below to be included as part of the official inquiry. It is based on extensive research over more than three years in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Europe and the UK. Here is what we have been told by translators, families and Afghan authorities.

During our research, we have interviewed nearly 50 ex-UK military translators, mostly inside Afghanistan, some families and over a dozen interpreters who have fled and are currently in Europe. We have also spoken to officers and soldiers who worked with them.

Firstly, we think it is important to clarify that there are two issues here. One centres on the first interpreter scheme, where an arbitrary date of 19 December 2012 applies. Interpreters who were serving on this day (and had served for at least 12 months) were (mostly) allowed to come to the UK. Secondly, there is the scheme that the Ministry of Defence called the intimidation policy, which assesses cases where interpreters say they are under threat from the Taliban and need to come to Britain because their lives are at risk.

On the first scheme, it is the view of many people we have spoken to, including former senior military figures and veterans of Afghanistan, that there is absolutely no reason nor justification for this date. Translators stress some of the most intense fighting happened before this period, and they regularly put their lives on the line for the British.

The military is aware that many told officers they were leaving specifically because of threats directly to them and their families.  In several cases, the translators say threats continue to this day. 

Several interpreters believe their contracts were terminated – after several years of service risking their lives on the front lines, and praised by UK officers – in the months leading up to this cut-off point to ensure they did not qualify for the scheme.

There is concern too that some interpreters who worked through the qualification period have been told they do not qualify for resettlement to the UK because they did not serve regularly on the front lines.

For example, one interpreter who worked for several years with medical teams at the main hospital in Helmand claims he was told he did not qualify.  Yet there is evidence that he and his family have been targeted specifically because of his work.

His duties were often high profile – he was photographed with Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Cheryl Cole and Freddie Flintoff (pictures are still on the Internet) – he went off base areas to collect casualties and translated for doctors treating injured Taliban.

He says he received telephone and written death threats which were reported.  In 2015 there has been an attack on his family home and a drive-by shooting outside the house involving gunmen on the back of motorcycles.  His four year-old niece was hit and killed.

UK officials recognise that there is a threat to him and his family because they have made a payment for them to move.  He is devastated, claims to be living in fear and says the payment is an ‘insult.’

Indeed, several translators echo this sentiment.  They say the payments (those we spoke to said payments varied from a few hundred dollars to around $1,500) are merely a means of the British being ‘able to wash their hands of us.’

They claim that to relocate in Afghanistan is ‘highly dangerous and rarely works.’ They are required to move to an area of the country where they will stand out as ‘strangers’ so arousing suspicions, they are required to make new starts which is difficult. The money provided in no way allows for a ‘new beginning’ for a home and movement of an, often, large family and that they are ‘known’ because of their work with the Coalition, they say. As outsiders, they say, they are unable to work.

Often, they say they are required to go into different tribal areas where the culture is different.

One of the most senior interpreters, who worked with Special Forces, for General Sir David Richards and David Cameron during a visit, said he has moved five times, and each time been identified as a ‘friend of the infidels.’

On one occasion, his father was warned at the mosque that his son was hundreds of miles away and must move quickly or he would be killed, he claimed.  We could not verify this.

The 28 year-old says he is forced to live for safety reasons apart from his wife and three daughters.

Another translator told how he and his family had survived three attacks – one when moving to a supposedly safer area.

There is also a disturbing allegation that one translator, who worked with the LSU, was given a substantial payment in the region of $15,000 in order to allow him to pay people smugglers.  This infuriated many of his colleagues as they believed he was being helped because of his relationship with the LSE.  The man is now in Germany where he has asylum and confirms the size of the payment and that it was used to ‘escape’ Afghanistan.

Kabul, the Afghan capital, is the recommended relocation site for many, with interpreters saying they are told it is ‘safe’.  The marked increase in Taliban attacks in recent months clearly questions this and there is a growing acceptance, even within the UK, that the city is not safe.

There is evidence in at least one case of a former British translator relocating to Kabul after an attack on his rural home only for his family to have been identified and attacked within days there.

Another translator who relocated to the capital and attempted to keep a low profile by opening a shop has twice, he claims, seen it burnt down, once with a message being left that it was because he had been a Coalition ‘spy.’

On one day in August 2015 more than 100 died in Kabul in five separate bombings and attacks.

This week – on the day the committee was hearing evidence - 20 people were murdered and 35 wounded in a suicide bombing at the Supreme Court, one of the most secure buildings in the city.

Last month 35 people were killed and dozens wounded in attacks near the Afghan Parliament, another ‘secure’ site.

Rather than improving after the UK pull out, the security situation in Afghanistan is now worse.  The Taliban has gained in strength, power and influence.  According to Afghan intelligence, the Taliban has ‘many spies’ and ‘people of influence’ inside some levels of administration.

In addition, ISIS is now in the country and increasingly influential, especially in the south where many translators came from.  They pose an obvious additional threat, translators claim.

It is significant that US Marines have recently been deployed back to Helmand Province, an increase in the US presence inside Afghanistan attributed to the growing strength of the insurgency.  Britain is discussing increasing its military trainers.

A new report on Monday (February 6) from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said more than 11,000 people were killed or injured in 2016. That's the highest number of civilian casualties in a single year since the United Nations began systemically documenting those in 2009.  Over 6,000 Afghan security forces were killed or injured.

Clearly, Afghanistan for translators is potentially dangerous.

On the second issue, the Daily Mail, General The Lord Dannatt, former head of the Army, and Major James Driscoll who is in charge of a petition signed by over 178,000 members of the public, have been passed information about interpreters facing threats.

My colleague, David Williams, who first visited Afghanistan during the years of Russian occupation, first reported of the claims of Afghan translators in 2013 interviewing around two dozen of those who had served with British forces.  All expressed their concerns, most their sense of betrayal.

Mr Williams had known several of the translators he spoke to from previous visits, meeting them when they were working for the British.

He visited Afghanistan twice in 2015 and spoke to at least a further 12 ex-interpreters.

In the past year, he has interviewed another 10.  The majority provided what they believed was evidence of threats or attacks.

Many of them provided what they said was proof that they are being intimidated.  It included death threat letters – some signed by Taliban commanders, some issued in recent months - and photographs of victims, damaged homes and bullet-riddled vehicles.

They have even provided photographs of relatives they said had been killed by the Taliban.  These included children, who had been murdered, and several who, they said, had been beaten.  In one case, they tried to sever the ear of a translator’s nephew.

In some cases, relatives were said to have been abducted to be exchanged for the translator.  In one instance, when a brother refused, his son was killed.

Family houses, including those of parents, are said to have been attacked.  These included rocket-propelled grenades being fired into at least two homes.  These attacks were supported by evidence provided by the Afghan authorities.

While it is difficult to independently verify these claims – and we found suggestions that some threat letters and other documentation may have been forged - we were able to confirm several.  These included the fact that relatives had been abducted, beaten – and, in some cases, killed.

Translators claims there is evidence that these attacks and intimidation continue.  With the security situation in Afghanistan, it is hard to confirm this to our satisfaction.

The Armed Forces Minister said in 2015 that there was no evidence that former translators had been killed because of their work with UK forces.

As the Daily Mail highlighted, this was not the case.  We were able to tell in detail the story of one ex-interpreter who was shot dead by the Taliban outside his home.  This was subsequently investigated by the MOD, who told the dead man’s family (the family claims) they accepted he was shot by the Taliban.

There are also claims – supported by several interpreters – of desperate translators being tortured and in at least one case, murdered in Iran after turning to people smugglers when they believed that they would be killed if they remained in their homeland.

As the committee heard, there are at least two other instances of translators being allegedly killed in the past year by the Taliban because of their work with the British.

The Taliban themselves issued a statements saying they still considered interpreters to be infidel spies.

What is absolutely clear is that the environment in Afghanistan has changed considerably since the policy for translators was put in place and the British pulled out.

The security situation in the country is deteriorating rapidly.

Not only has the Taliban retaken swathes of Helmand where so many British soldiers (and Afghan translators) were killed or maimed, it is also growing in influence and threat in many other areas.

This was clearly evidenced by the successful (albeit temporary) capture of the city of Kunduz. At the time, at least two ex-UK translators told us they were trapped in the city and appealed for help.

Rafi Hottak, who gave evidence to the committee, was the man who helped to recruit and interview the translators.  He recruited men from Kunduz.

In a reference by a senior British officer for one of the trapped men, he spoke of direct threats to the interpreter and referred to another Coalition translator who had been killed there.  The dead man worked for the US but it provided evidence of the threat.

Lawyers (Leigh Day) representing more than 80 former translators in the UK say the MoD has said that interpreters were deliberately recruited from Kabul in order to reduce the risks they face in comparison with Iraqi interpreters.

However, one of those responsible for interviewing applicants for interpreting roles and recruited hundreds of interpreters over the course of his employment, gave evidence that although the British recruited from Kabul, very few interpreters actually came from there.

He deliberately selected those with native knowledge of Pashto language and culture, as this was a crucial skill set for their job.  Therefore, he said most interpreters that he recruited came from Wardak, Logar, Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgun, Jalabad and Khost.

It is worth noting that in their references several British officers have referred to direct threats to their translators by members of both the Afghan police and the Afghan National Army. They have also referenced how Taliban prisoners (now free) were questioned by the translators.  Several translators have said the Taliban told them at the time, that when Coalition forces pulled out, they would take ‘revenge.’

On two occasions an officer talks specifically of finding Afghan forces pointing their rifles in the chest and stomach of a translator.  This was because the individual had been loyal to the British and warned the officer that the Afghans were corrupt and planning to steal funds earmarked for the rebuilding of the country.

As anyone who has read and examined the many glowing recommendations of UK officers (and soldiers) for the translators will know, this is not an isolated claim.  They are glowing in their praise and highlight the risks taken by translators – and the potential for on-going threats.

One of the reasons that interpreters often give for not directly reporting death threats to Afghan authorities, is the belief that some are at best resentful and at worst sympathetic to the Taliban.  At least one translator claims that his personal details were given to the Taliban by an Afghan policeman.

These allegations makes the claim last year by an Afghan minister that 500 members of the security forces are defecting to the Taliban each month, even more disturbing.

Translators point out that they served alongside some of these defectors, who know their personal details and roles with the military in monitoring Taliban radio, pinpointing their positions and being involved in their deaths.

Some translators, mostly those in Kabul, have told us that they are able to work but have to take extreme security precautions.  Others say have been forced to constantly move homes and in some circumstances, hide away and not work to stop themselves being killed.

Often, they say, they have to live apart from their families because of the threat.  One claimed he moved house each month.

Despite this evidence and the worsening security situation, not a single Afghan interpreter has been allowed to come to Britain under the intimidation policy.

An argument put forward is that the translators – many university or college educated – are needed to rebuild Afghanistan.  However, many contend they can’t work because of their time with the Coalition.  Some translators we spoke to were working for both international and Afghan companies or officials but all were worried about security issues.

It is a point of interest that two translators brought to the UK with their families because they were working at the time of the cut-off said they had received no direct threat in Afghanistan but came to Britain because it represented a better future for their children.

The Ministry of Defence has cast doubt on the claims by the Mail. It has also questioned the credibility of some former translators, suggesting some present a security threat.

It is true that in the present environment it is extremely difficult to investigate in rural areas although in some instances Afghan authorities have been able to verify claims of attacks and reported intimidation.

Those involved in the cases, including lawyers and the translators themselves, believe it would be useful to know exactly how far the intimidation unit goes in verifying – and proving beyond doubt – claims of threats made to translators.

Understandably perhaps with the current security concerns, there appears little evidence of UK investigators or their representatives going out to rural areas, towns and cities to investigate a claim or death threat.

Interpreters ask how much trust is placed in the Afghan authorities to investigate when the translators believe many are tainted. Translators say they are often told that evidence from a local mosque, police chief or civil authority official carries no weight.  So, they ask, how do we verify cases?

In some instances we know families have been spoken to and their stories cross checked but lawyers question what other investigations are carried out to a sufficient standard that allows not a single case to have been accepted.

One ex-translator, whose brother was killed by the Taliban, and who faced death threats himself was told he did not qualify to go to the UK because he had visited an uncle in the Midlands previously and had worked illegally in his shop – an allegation he denied.

There is certainly evidence some of the claims have been embellished and phrases in some stories are often repeated raising their own questions.

But those representing the translators ask what are the checks done on death threat letters, some of which have been signed by Taliban commanders or officials to verify them. 

We are told that some have been forged but the details of a number of these commanders are known to be on file.  Whether a commander has handled and signed such a letter should be possible to confirm, it is argued.

So too should the telephone numbers used from which death threats are allegedly made.

It is a matter of considerable annoyance to the translators that documentation such as death threat letters that they provide as ‘evidence’ to the unit is not returned to them, even when they are told their cases are rejected and ask for them.

One translator who paid people smugglers to reach Europe was told he was not believed because he was unable to furnish the letters.

The interpreters are baffled as to why not a single one of those who have turned to the intimidation unit for help has been given the ‘benefit of any doubt’ given their service to UK, the risks they took and the fact they believe they are unable to live a normal, safe life because of that service.

They complain they are not given a reason for rejection, merely told that the decision has been taken elsewhere and that is the end of the matter.  Surely, they say, they deserve an explanation which, if necessary, they could challenge or appeal.

They believe that unlike in the case of the Iraqi translators, the government has a hard line stance against them and does not recognise the risk and their service. Just because there were not widespread killings as in Iraq, they say, it does not mean that the threat is real.

We had been often told by translators they believe ‘everything is being done to block us’ from coming to Britain.

For example, supporting this, they say, is the way that the family of a translator blown up in Helmand (a UK officer was killed beside him) has been treated.  The Afghan was granted asylum in the UK but his wife and children have been told that they must go to Pakistan to submit their papers to join him in the UK. 

It is potentially dangerous – and extremely costly – to go to Pakistan.  Why can’t they submit them in Kabul, the man asks?  In contrast, the ‘chosen few’ allowed to come to the UK under the scheme submit their papers through Kabul.

It seems to them that officials are going above and beyond to dismiss these claims to stop interpreters being granted asylum, when actually surely, they argue, they should be given the benefit of the doubt given their proven service to the UK.

Their view is that they gave their lives to help soldiers, put their families’ lives in jeopardy, and the threat to their lives is only increasing after British soldiers pulled out in 2014.

One translator said his nephew had been murdered by the Taliban, and cousin abducted.  A death threat letter is said to have been pinned to his front door.

Translators say that all confidence in the LSU has broken down to the degree that some threats now are simply not reported because it is ‘a waste of time.’  They have long complained the unit is hard to contact, calls are not returned and translators have to travel to Kabul for interviews, a risk, they claim, in itself.

Translators also complain that when they told officers of death threats during their years of service, they were not always recorded.  Officers and soldiers would tell them ‘don’t worry, you are with us, we will look after you.’

They say because there is no record, the LSU say that it can’t be proved and could have been made up.  The translators point out that the military, if contacted, would support their claims.

Another point for consideration is that several interpreters have been ‘forced’ to make their own way to Britain out of desperation, they claim, because the intimidation panel says they are unable to prove they are being intimidated.  At least 10 are also in Germany and Sweden.

Some of these interpreters say they received phone calls by the Taliban, or other form of threats that are impossible for them to prove.

We have spoken to one interpreter who is in Germany after the British refused him even those his family members were killed by the Taliban.

We are also aware of two former inhabitants of the Jungle in Calais trying to come to the UK illegally. Another who made it to the UK is facing deportation.

There are also another two frontline translators who paid people smugglers currently in the UK fearing they are about to be thrown out. 

Both have been told they are to be deported to Austria and Hungary because they were fingerprinted there.  Both claim they only fled because of Taliban threats – and the fact UK would not help.

A 28 year-old married translator said two IEDs had been put outside his home – one defused by ANA, the second by villagers.  Threat letters brand him a ‘spy.’ After a six month investigation, the intimidation unit paid him a sum to relocate. He claimed he was still tracked down.  Meanwhile his father was tortured and beaten in a bid to find where he was.

A threat letter was then delivered to his father by the mullah at his local mosque.  It was, he said, signed by a Taliban leader.  It was one of two delivered to the mosque threatening him.

He claims that in 2015 his uncle was murdered by the Taliban.  He had been warned several times that he should not associate with the ‘infidel family.’  The uncle was shot 13 times.  This is independently confirmed by ANA. 

We interviewed recently in France two former translators with glowing references from the military. Both had moved home often in Afghanistan, neither had been able to work in recent months.

One had been injured in a Taliban attack on his home which also wounded his young son.  He and his family survived two ambushes.  The LSU paid for a resettlement so accepted the threat.  The translator said he and his family was threatened again – he claimed another Coalition translator (not for the UK) was beheaded after being dragged from a taxi – but nothing further was done to help him so he fled to Europe.

Because he was fingerprinted in the Balkans, France wants to deport him there.  If this happens, he says he has been warned, he will be returned to Afghanistan.

When we interviewed him, he and a second UK translator were sleeping in freezing conditions underneath a bridge on the edge of Paris.

The second translator, who worked with SF among other units, claims that his own family members have been abducted by the Taliban.

Both are trying to reach Britain and say they are desperate.

Some of those who have reached the UK and face deportation have told us they would rather kill themselves than return to the Taliban.  Whether this is true or not last year there was the tragic case of the ex-translator, who was found hanged in Birmingham.  He faced deportation and told colleagues he was depressed and desperate not to return. 

The man, who had family in Afghanistan, had been recruited as a military translator and then become a driver/translator for the main British hospital at Camp Bastion.

Several translators have accused the UK of ‘double tricks.’ They claim they are being asked to sign ‘waivers’ retrospectively saying they knew of the dangers when they signed up for work with UK forces and, thus, Britain is not responsible for their safety.

Even without the overwhelming evidence, they ask, how can it be that interpreters who risked their lives for Britain on the frontline, received glowing recommendations from their senior officers about how they saved lives, be left to the Taliban?

David Williams and Larisa Brown

16 February 2017