British ex-soldier is ARRESTED by the Taliban as his bid to evacuate 400 Afghans fails: Islamists order him to leave evacuees behind - despite promisi

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British ex-soldier is ARRESTED by the Taliban as his bid to evacuate 400 Afghans fails: Islamists order him to leave evacuees behind - despite promising people were free to leave the country​

2 Sep 2021 ~~ By Charlotte Mitchell
  • Ben Slater was arrested on Thursday morning after attempting border crossing
  • The 37-year-old was trying to evacuate 400 Afghans, including 50 staff
  • The former Royal Military Police member runs a chain of NGOs in Afghanistan
  • He was questioned about his staff, many of whom are single women that had been staying in a hotel near a border checkpoint
  • Slater was released and told he could leave country with one other staff member
  • The others would have to remain in Afghanistan, the militant group said
  • Slater is now attempting to get visas for his staff, and feels let down by the FCDO
  • The Taliban have promised to allow all foreigners and others to leave the country
  • Thursday's incident adds to concerns the group will not stick to this pledge
A former British soldier has been arrested by the Taliban while attempting to evacuate 400 Afghans.
Ben Slater, 37, was thrown in prison on Thursday morning and questioned regarding members of his 50 staff, most of whom are single women and had been staying in hotel rooms near a border checkpoint.
The former member of the Royal Military Police runs a chain of NGOs in Afghanistan, and had been attempting to evacuate his staff over a land border after failing to secure spots for them and their families on the British airlift from Kabul.
However, his mission failed after a coach carrying the staff was turned away at a land border. It is not clear which country the coach was attempting to cross into.
Slater was released later on Thursday and told he could cross the border with one assistant, but that the rest of his staff had to remain in Afghanistan, The Telegraph reported.
~Snip~
The international community remains concerned about the sincerity of the pledge on the part of the Taliban, as many of those attempting to flee are doing so out of fear of retribution from the militants.
Prior to the end of the U.S. airlift and the subsequent closure of Kabul airport, there were reports that the Taliban were stopping people from travelling to the airport area, effectively preventing them from escaping.
Slater told The Telegraph that he will now try to secure visas for his staff from the UK or another Western country.
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Comment:
there's a map just above the FCDO comment that shows the countries surrounding Afghanistan and which are closed to refugees. i.e., all but Tajikistan, which is very north.
American or otherwise, those Bai Dung left behind are now hostages and must bend to the whims of the Taliban or perish.
 

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