PM’s Afghan translator ‘abandoned to the Taliban’: Top language expert, 26, was branded an ‘infidel spy’ by jihadis and told he would ‘die like a dog’
Man known as ‘Shaffy’ photographed with David Cameron in Kabul in 2011
Since then been branded an ‘infidel spy’ by Taliban troops in Afghanistan
Says British authorities refuse to save him, his wife and three daughters
Despite being praised by army officers for ‘outstanding courage’, still denied access to the UK
One of the British army’s top Afghan interpreters who has been targeted by the Taliban after working for David Cameron claims the UK has abandoned him.
The 26-year-old graduate, known to UK forces as Shaffy, was branded an ‘infidel spy’ and told he would ‘die like a dog’ days after he was shown on British and Afghan TV standing beside the Prime Minister during a visit to the war ravaged Helmand province in 2011.
Speaking from the Afghan capital Kabul, he today said: ‘The Taliban told me I stood with Mr Cameron helping the British as they killed their mujahideen and that I would die because of it. I told them that it was a mistake and not me but they said I was a liar, that my pictures and video was on Google and they were looking as we spoke at me beside Mr Cameron.’
Shaffy, who worked for the army until January 2013, said he was told by UK forces that they would look after him. But the father-of-three says the British have left and after six years with the military – three on the frontlines, when he was twice blown up in armoured vehicles, and three working for senior officers – the threats have grown and the Taliban have almost seized him twice.
He said: ‘I have changed my telephone many times and have frequently moved house but every time their messengers find where I am and taunt me that I will die for helping the British.
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‘The British authorities know all about my case and I have asked to be allowed to come to the UK because my life and that of my wife and three young daughters is in danger as a direct consequence of working loyally for them. But they just say “sorry, no” and give no reason.
‘I saved British lives, I monitored the Taliban radio, I stood side by side with soldiers who became my friends. I was blown up with them, I helped them when they were injured, I helped with the bodies of those good men killed beside me.
‘I cleared up the legs blown from one man but Mr Cameron and the UK Government has forgotten us, they have nothing in their hearts.’
Shaffy had been turned down by a scheme that allowed interpreters who worked for a year after December 2011 to move to Britain.
He has letters of praise from Army officers, one saying he had shown ‘outstanding courage’ and had ‘continued to provide committed service despite intimidation and threats to both he and his family’.
Another said he was ‘the outstanding interpreter of more than 100 available…thoroughly battle hardened and loyal to British forces.’
One captain, Shaffy said, told him he had saved many lives after finding intelligence of a Taliban ambush so an Apache helicopter could be called in. He said: ‘Taliban supporters know I was responsible for such things – they called me the “British bridge” to insurgents so how can I now live a normal life without fear?
‘The area where I have lived with my family now has a Taliban governor, I cannot resume my life there, people point to me and call me a “spy”. I tried to move to the north and was recognised, I moved to Kabul and the same thing happened. I went to my uncle’s home last month and when we woke there was a letter on Taliban headed paper from a commander named Mullah Assif.’
The letter called Shaffy ‘a spy’ who was ‘responsible for the deaths of decent and innocent mujahideen’. It said he would be killed, warning: ‘There is no hiding place.’
Shaffy said he was so desperate to escape that he approached people smugglers but could not afford the money they were demanding. Appealing to Mr Cameron, he said: ‘Like my brothers who stood beside your forces in the worst of times, I am being abandoned.
‘You wash your hands of a responsibility to us.
‘Will it only be enough proof for Britain that my life here will end in violent death from a gunman when it happens? For me, for my family, then it will be too late. Please Mr Cameron, show some decency and give us hope and our life back.’
Downing Street failed to respond to a request for comment last night.
MailOnline
