There have been what media are calling "extraordinary scenes" at today's hearing of the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan chaired by Lord Justice Sir Charles Haddon-Cave.

Veteran's Minister Johnny Mercer MP had referred in his written statement to warnings given by unnamed military friends that there might be something in the allegations circulating about unlawful killing's by some British Special Forces personnel in Afghanistan. But when appearing as a witness he refused to give the inquiry the names of those informants.

If there is to be blame for a bureaucratic mistake (or worse), it is important to recognise that UK individuals who served alongside the 'Triples' in Afghanistan have not abandoned them, and have been discreetly campaigning on their behalf.

BAFF previously commented on the "extremely serious allegation" that former members of Afghan Special Forces 'Triples' units who served alongside UKSF have had their applications under the ARAP scheme turned down, supposedly because of UKSF concerns that their former comrades in the Triples might, if relocated, give inconvenient evidence to the Haddon-Cave Independent Inquiry on Afghanistan.

The "Triples" were the Afghan SF units CF 333 and ATF 444, said to have been founded, funded and trained by Britain to give operational support to UKSF.

Further media reports now claim to have found documentary evidence in an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) that the UKSF directorate had complete veto power over Triples applications from at least the start of January 2023.

A petition for the Government to review its "New Accommodation Offer" has now received more than 10,000 signatures, so the Government has to respond.

Under the official UK Government and Parliament Petition procedure, this petition will be considered for debate in Parliament if it gets 100,000 signatures.

If you would like to sign the petition, the link is here:

The Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps, has responded to a strong series of reports in The Telegraph about diversity and inclusion policies in Defence.

Many BAFF members and supporters will agree with much of what Mr Shapps said, and which we quote below.

Without the clearest possible direction which reaches all levels, there is a risk though of repeating the same kind of mistakes as before - like the "strange behaviours" which the First Sea Lord said could be the result of diversity targets - but now equally "strange behaviours" in the other direction.

Without clear consistent policies which are adequately explained and understood, the same mindset which described RAF aircrew applicants as 'useless white male pilots' could lead to equally undesirable consequences in other ways...