On Sunday, July 20th, 2025, the news of a secret relocation scheme for Afghans caused a political uproar in the UK. The scheme, known as the Afghan Response Route (ARR), was set up by the previous government in response to a 2023 data breach in the Ministry of Defence. The breach put the lives of thousands of Afghans at risk and has now been revealed to have involved 20,000 individuals at a cost of approximately £2 billion.
The ARR was created after the withdrawal of Western forces from Afghanistan in 2021, which resulted in the Taliban taking control of the country. This left thousands of Afghans who had worked with UK Armed Forces, including interpreters and other personnel, in danger and in need of relocation. This was a concern raised by Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood in February 2023, who stated that the withdrawal from Afghanistan was a “dark chapter” in UK military history and that those who had assisted the UK mission were still at risk.
Ellwood’s words continue to ring true, as the recent news of the ARR cover-up by the British government has brought attention to the fact that these Afghans, who risked their lives to help the UK, still do not have a safe home. This is a stark contrast to the successful integration of Afghan refugees, such as Darius Nasimi’s father, Nooralhaq Nasimi, who fled Taliban-held Afghanistan for Britain in 1999. Nooralhaq Nasimi was able to build a new life in Britain, eventually gaining a law degree, learning English, and founding a charity, the Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA), which now has branches across the country.
The ACAA, led by Nooralhaq Nasimi and his son Darius Nasimi, works to help refugees integrate into their new homes and build bridges between Britain and Afghanistan. Darius Nasimi, who is also the founder of Afghanistan Government in Exile (AGiE), understands the tragic history and connection between these two nations and strives to create positive relationships between refugees and their host nation.
The recent revelation of the ARR has brought to light the ongoing struggle for Afghan refugees and the responsibility that Britain holds to provide them with a safe home, just as Nooralhaq Nasimi found in 1999. The cover-up by the British government does not change the fact that these individuals risked their lives to assist the UK, and it is now the responsibility of the government to ensure their safety and well-being.