When the US and its allies withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021, it was clear that many Afghans who had supported Western efforts — often making them a target for the Taliban – had been left behind. This series explores the failure by European countries to take responsibility for the safety of Afghans who worked for or in close partnership with them, and the subsequent harm these individuals have faced under the Taliban regime.
SERIES LEFT BEHIND
19.02.2024
Great British Betrayal
The UK has turned away hundreds of Afghan commandos paid and trained by the British military. Some had complained about or say they witnessed war crimes by the same UK forces who were given veto power over their applications, with insiders warning of a conflict of interest.
Published with
01.11.2023
Abandoned Afghan Commandos
Left Behind: Dozens of Afghans who served in special forces units funded and trained by the UK have been murdered or tortured by the Taliban
Published with
23.09.2023
Left for Dead
Left Behind: Afghans who worked for Dutch-funded NGOs were told they’d be evacuated to safety, but a shift in policy left them to face the wrath of the Taliban – with consequences that have proven deadly
Published with
28.07.2023
Germany’s Afghan Betrayal
Left Behind: The German government is rejecting its Afghan staff’s pleas for evacuation, despite its own development agency warning they face Taliban retaliation
Published with
12.04.2023
France’s forgotten Afghan spies
Left Behind: A French-led intelligence cell in Afghanistan was kept secret for years – and now France has left its agents behind
Published with
03.12.2022
The Left Behind
Tracing fate of Afghans who assisted the UK after fall of Kabul
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