A recent report by the UK Parliament’s Defence Select Committee has highlighted significant shortcomings in the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) handling of relocation applications from former Afghan special forces soldiers, known as the Triples, who worked alongside British units during the conflict in Afghanistan. The committee’s findings bring renewed scrutiny to the treatment of these individuals following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.

The report, published on Thursday, comes more than two and a half years after an investigation first revealed that hundreds of former commandos had been left vulnerable, with many facing beatings, torture, or death under Taliban rule. The Triples had worked closely with UK forces and were paid directly by the British government, contradicting earlier MoD assertions that these soldiers were not employed by the UK.

MPs on the Defence Select Committee identified “material defects” in the original application process for sanctuary, noting that thousands of cases were rejected without proper investigation amid efforts to clear a backlog. The MoD was criticized for failing to adequately understand or apply evidence regarding the Triples’ relationship with the UK, as well as for not properly maintaining or reviewing its own records.

Following public exposure of these issues in late 2023, the government admitted that prior decision-making had been flawed and pledged to reconsider hundreds of cases. When the Labour Party assumed power, Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard acknowledged that the MoD had erred in denying the Triples’ employment status and initiated a review of approximately 2,000 applications.

By March 2026, the review had overturned 884 previous refusals, with about 30 percent of cases deemed eligible for resettlement due to the applicants’ prior service alongside British forces. An additional 300 cases became eligible because of data exposed in a 2022 MoD breach involving tens of thousands of Afghans. The committee characterized this high reversal rate as evidence that the review addressed serious flaws rather than serving as a mere administrative cleanup.

The findings also criticize the MoD for its delayed recognition and handling of a significant data breach disclosed in August 2023, which was initially concealed through a rare superinjunction. This breach prompted the secret evacuation of thousands of Afghan families but sparked concerns over prioritization. Independent caseworkers have warned that emergency pathways established for those affected by the breach favored individuals without legitimate UK claims over eligible applicants with long-standing service histories. They also noted ongoing concerns that many qualified Afghans continue to face incorrect rejections.

The backlog of Afghan resettlement applications has decreased from 25,000 in July 2025 to approximately 14,000 as of June 2026, yet MPs cautioned that pressure to conclude the program should not undermine decision quality. The report stresses that the MoD holds a “special responsibility” to those Triples whose claims were wrongly denied and who may have spent additional years in hiding or faced dangers due to these administrative failures.

In a related development, the MoD recently informed Afghan families approved for sanctuary that they will need to leave Taliban-controlled territory independently. Advocacy groups have criticized this approach, arguing that it creates a “two-tier system” where only those able to fund their own escape can relocate safely, while vulnerable individuals remain at grave risk.

The MoD has stated its commitment to fulfilling government promises to support eligible Triples who contributed to the UK mission in Afghanistan, though the report highlights ongoing challenges in delivering timely and fair outcomes for those affected.