Interpreters and other Afghans who risked their lives to escape following the march of the Taliban landed in Britain yesterday aboard a historic RAF rescue flight.
Following the fall of their homeland in August, many of those left stranded when Western evacuation flights ended made the decision to leave, embarking on journeys fraught with danger.
Displaying courage and cunning, they defied jihadists desperate to intercept them en route to neighbouring countries.
From one such location, which cannot be disclosed for security reasons, the first group was flown to a military airbase in the Middle East and then on to Britain where they landed yesterday to start their new lives.
They were joined on the final leg of their journey by the Daily Mail which has advocated tirelessly for many years on behalf of translators through our award-winning Betrayal of the Brave campaign.
Touchdown: Interpreters and other Afghans who risked their lives to escape following the march of the Taliban walk off plane at RAF base in Oxfordshire yesterday
Starting afresh: Ismail and his wife Malika
Ismail, 52 and his wife Malika, 42, have suffered revenge attacks at the hands of the Taliban for working with the British.
As they arrived in the UK, Malika said: ‘We were prepared to risk our lives to leave Afghanistan because the Taliban is killing our family members and would have killed us had we stayed there.
‘They executed a son of ours as punishment because Ismail worked for the British and so did another of our sons who is now living in the UK. So the journey to the neighbouring country was dangerous but really, as we are from Helmand Province where the fighting was so bloody for so long, we only know danger and bloodshed and loss.’
The couple had to pay a £200 bribe to a border official who refused to let two more of their children, travelling with them, from entering the neighbouring country.
Malika said: ‘We have nothing left to lose so we will start new lives.’
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In all, 31 Afghans, including wives and children, arrived at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, exhausted but relieved after their ordeal.
They had intended to leave Afghanistan in August but were unable to access any of the Operation Pitting mercy flights from Kabul airport which rescued more than 15,000 Afghans, UK citizens and foreign nationals.
This week’s rescue mission is shrouded in secrecy due to political complications across the region.
As we can report today for the first time, it took measures to protect their real identities and supporting paperwork, disguises and cover stories to convince Taliban gunmen to let them through checkpoints and border crossings.
Also for security reasons, none of the specific tactics they used can be disclosed – as in the coming weeks more refugees may attempt to make similar journeys.
Several more RAF flights rescuing refugees from the region are expected to reach Britain in the coming weeks.
Among those arriving in Britain for the first time yesterday was former interpreter Zubair, 40, a married father of three who travelled here with his family.
He described the chilling moments when Taliban gunmen questioned his account as he fled.
Zubair said: ‘It was terrifying, they were poking a gun at me and asking me where I was going and why. The last thing I could say was the truth – because the Taliban will use any excuse to kill people, killing is just like a video game to them, it’s nothing.
'We had to stick to the story and hope they believed it. I could never go through it again. We did not dress the same, or say what we really did. I had practised saying what I did in my pretend job but it was very scary, so much pressure.’
After a long journey from the Middle East, the RAF Voyager A330 taxied to a standstill in Oxfordshire, allowing the families, including small children clutching cuddly toys, to be finally able to relax.
From the tarmac they were driven to a repatriation centre where they were processed by Border Force officials before last night being taken to a hotel where they must quarantine for at least ten days.
We’re here! Children on the tarmac. After a long journey from the Middle East, the RAF Voyager A330 taxied to a standstill in Oxfordshire, allowing the families, including small children clutching cuddly toys, to be finally able to relax
In danger: Mohib missed the airlift
Mohib, 34, was a former interpreter for the Black Watch, a Scottish infantry regiment.
He was a key figure in the reconstruction of Helmand Province after British forces brought some stability to its major population centres. A road network was laid down and Mohib was
