(Reuters) - British military and political figures on Saturday called on the government to offer asylum to hundreds of Afghan interpreters at risk of Taliban reprisals now that the soldiers they helped start pulling out of the country.
In an open letter to the Times newspaper, signatories including Britain's former army chief said there were about 600 interpreters helping British troops in Afghanistan. To date, about 20 have been killed in action and dozens more wounded.
They said Britain had a "moral obligation" to protect these men, many of whom now fear retaliation from Taliban insurgents as the troops prepare for a full exit from the country by the end of 2014.