– This will damage Norway’s reputation
The government has introduced a new limited application scheme for former local employees in Afghanistan. As TV 2 has previously reported, more and more people have demanded that such a scheme be put in place after the Taliban seized power last summer.
The fresh instructions states that if you have worked for the Armed Forces or the Norwegian Embassy in Afghanistan after 31 December 2014, you can apply for asylum in Norway.
– Leaves them on the battlefield
But this also means on everything that worked to 31 December 2014, ie everyone who assisted Norway operation ISAF, is excluded from applying. It is unclear how many this applies to, but a spokesman for the local employees tells TV 2 that it is about 65 people.
Robert Mood believes Norway is now leaving them on the battlefield.
– It is really so simple that 20 years ago, when our politicians decided to deploy military forces in Afghanistan, they also took on the responsibility for the local staff: interpreters, cleaners, maintenance workers. They have worked for us, and in the eyes of the Taliban, they can be traitors to their own country. And then we can not leave them on the battlefield, says the experienced army officer Mood, who himself has participated in several international operations.
He is aware that this will damage Norway’s reputation in future military operations.
– This is done for Norway with a reputation for being one of the countries that does not take care of those who want to work for us, and it will be more difficult to get people in the future.
See the response from the Ministry of Justice further down in the article.
– Artificial date separation
Bjørn Robert Dahl is also critical of the limitations of the application scheme. Dahl is Secretary General of Norwegian Veterans Association for International Operations (NVIO).
– Setting a date for who can apply gives an artificial distinction. In the instructions, the authorities point to a need for security, but it should not expire in Afghanistan, Dahl says.
He elaborates by saying that a person who worked for foreign forces in 2014 is no safer than one who worked in 2015.
Dahl also adds that there were far more Norwegians and thus local employees in turn under ISAF than the subsequent operation, Resolute Support Mission (RSM)which started up on December 1, 2015.
– Do you think the government set the date 31 November 2014 to exclude as many as possible from being able to apply?
– Yes, or to be together as few as possible, Dahl answers.
He says several of the members of the Veterans Association react to the fact that Norway does not offer equal rights to all former employees.
– They ask themselves why we do not take care of those we have worked with.
– What is your appeal to the authorities?
– I think we should open up for the whole period we have had Norwegian forces in Afghanistan.
Adheres to the decision
The Ministry of Defense refers to the Ministry of Justice in this case, but the Ministry of Justice will not be available for an interview and asks us to contact the Ministry of Defense.
But in an email, the Ministry of Justice points out that the Afghans who worked for Norway under ISAF ended their employment at least seven years ago.
State Secretary Astrid Bergmål (Labor Party) writes further on:
«All of these have lived and worked in their local communities after they ended their employment with Norway. The situation is now undoubtedly difficult for very many Afghans, regardless of whether they have worked for other countries’ authorities or not. However, there is no need for a link between previous employment and persecution, revenge, reprimands from the Taliban for people who have worked for foreign authorities many years back in time. “
You can read the entire answer from the Ministry of Justice here:
Response from the Ministry of Justice
State Secretary Astrid Bergmål (Labor Party), Ministry of Justice and Emergency Management:
«The Ministry of Defense states at the end of the Resolute Support Mission (RSM), Norway received everyone who was a local employee for the Armed Forces and the embassy. RSM started on 31.12.2014, and it is former local employees in the RSM period who are still in Afghanistan who are covered by the new instruction. Norway has received locally employed interpreters for the Armed Forces since 2012 and also for the Police Contingent since 2015. Former local employees who are left in Afghanistan, and who are not covered by this scheme, terminated their employment at least 7 years ago. All of these have lived and worked in their local communities after they ended their employment with Norway. The situation is now undoubtedly difficult for very many Afghans, regardless of whether they have worked for other countries’ authorities or not. However, there is not necessarily a link between previous employment relationships and persecution, revenge, reprimands from the Taliban for people who have worked for foreign authorities many years back in time. Several groups have become more vulnerable since the Taliban took power. This applies to women, girls, human rights defenders, civil society actors, journalists and people working for former security services and the prosecution.
Some countries use the quota scheme such as Norway, some issue entry visas so that people can apply for asylum after arrival and some have their own schemes with their own basis for residence. The countries set criteria and cut-off times, and what applies differs from country to country.
Around 100 places have been set aside in the quota for resettlement refugees to this portfolio – for former employees and their nuclear family. “
Dangerous decision
SV has been a driving force behind getting a new application scheme in place, and is very disappointed with the result.
– It is too late, too little and too dangerous for the people this actually affects, says Grete Wold, who is the immigration policy spokesperson in SV.
– How dangerous?
– It is dangerous because there are families who have to live in hiding in Afghanistan, and it is now approaching a year since the Taliban took power. We know very well that Afghanistan has in no way become a safer or better place.
Atmosphere: – They are in danger
Robert Mood says he and other veterans are being contacted by former local staff who are now stuck in Afghanistan.
– There is no reason to doubt that there are some out there with danger to their own and their families’ lives, Mood says.
He adds that this has a heavy impact on many Norwegian veterans.
– For a soldier at war, the most important thing is to take care of the comrades, and at least no one is left on the battlefield. Now the veterans are sitting in Norway and watching that people they worked with are in danger in Afghanistan. It affects people.
– Feels betrayed
One of the families living in hiding is “Ahmed” with his wife and little daughter. TV 2 has told about Ahmed in several reports before. He worked for Norwegian forces in Mazar-i-Sharif for eight years until 2014.
– We really like working with the Norwegians, they were so nice, Ahmed has told TV 2 before.
But now he feels only one big disappointment.
– We feel betrayed. Norway promised to help us in August last year, but now they have left us, says Ahmed.
TV 2 has previously been in contact with other Norwegian employees who said that they fled Afghanistan after the Taliban visited their homes.
Ahmed and his family still live in hiding. He is convinced that he is in danger if the Taliban finds him.
– Now we have lived in hiding ever since the Taliban took over. I have no opportunity to work to support the family, says Ahmed.
He is a trained accountant, but for the Norwegian forces he worked as a caretaker. As TV 2 has shown before, previous instructions from the Norwegian authorities have only allowed local employees to apply for asylum in Norway.
Rescued by the British
After the Taliban took power, several countries began evacuating former employees.
Some colleagues of Ahmed, who also worked for the Norwegian forces, have been evacuated to countries such as Great Britain and Germany.
– They were lucky, they had worked to land. While I devoted all the years to only Norway. So now I’m stuck with her, says Ahmed.
His one colleague worked for the United Kingdom from 2003 to 2006. He then worked for Norway. But it was the British who came to the rescue. He now lives in London.
Ahmed has also asked other countries for help, but has been told that he is Norway’s responsibility.
– I regret that I worked for Norway. If I had worked for someone else, my family and I would be safe now, he says quickly.
– Norway has good capacity
Grete Wold in SV points out that Norway after the Ukraine war has clearly shown capacity to receive more asylum seekers.
– Now it turns out that not many people come from Ukraine. This means that capacity has been built up, and we have the full opportunity to receive more people who are now living with fear in Afghanistan. These are people who have worked for the Norwegian authorities. We have an ethical and moral responsibility to them.
The Conservatives, who were in government when the Taliban seized power last year, say the following about the new application system:
– The Solberg government was initially open to also consider inquiries from local employees from before 2014, who had not already been rejected for security reasons, writes Hårek Elvenes, defense policy spokesman for the Conservative Party, in an email. He continues:
– We at the Støre government have made careful assessments and that these lay the foundation for the new instructions.
Trygler Norway
Ahmed says that he and his colleagues from the ISAF period do not know what to do next.
– Our only hope has always been Norway. I just ask Norway to change the application scheme, so that it also includes us. That is the only way we can survive, Ahmed concludes from his hiding place in Afghanistan.