An Afghan former soldier who says he fought alongside Western forces against the Taliban has been returned from the United Kingdom to France under the countries’ controversial “one in, one out” migrant returns agreement, after attempting to seek asylum in Britain following failed applications elsewhere in Europe.
The 28-year-old Afghan national, identified as Haidary Hamedullah, said he decided to cross the English Channel after his asylum claims were rejected twice in Austria. Speaking after his return to France, he said he believed the United Kingdom offered his last opportunity to find safety outside the European Union.
“I fought with your armies,” Hamedullah said, referring to his service alongside the Western-led coalition that supported Afghan security forces before the withdrawal of US and NATO troops in 2021. He said many former Afghan soldiers were left vulnerable to retaliation after the Taliban regained control of the country.
Questioning his future, Hamedullah said people who supported the previous Afghan government now have few safe options. “People like me have nowhere in the world to live in safety. Where should we go?” he asked.
Hamedullah is among 1,087 migrants returned to France under the UK-France “one in, one out” migration agreement, which allows the UK to return certain migrants who arrive through irregular Channel crossings while accepting an equivalent number of eligible asylum seekers from France through legal pathways.
His wife and two children remain in Pakistan after the family fled Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Travelling alone, Hamedullah said he spent years attempting to reach Europe, making numerous unsuccessful attempts through Greece and Bulgaria before eventually entering Austria.
After Austrian authorities rejected his asylum application twice, he said he exhausted his legal options within the European Union and decided to attempt the dangerous crossing from northern France to the United Kingdom.
According to Hamedullah, he paid €1,500 to people smugglers in Dunkirk for a place on an inflatable boat heading to England. His first attempt was stopped by French police, but he successfully crossed the Channel during a second attempt after spending several hours hiding near the shoreline before boarding the vessel.
Upon arriving in Dover, he said women and children were taken to accommodation facilities while men travelling alone were placed in immigration detention. Hamedullah was transferred to a detention centre near Heathrow Airport, where he remained for 51 days before being flown back to France.
He said he received legal representation during his detention but fears his return to France could eventually lead to his transfer back to Austria under European asylum rules.
The UK and France introduced the “one in, one out” agreement in August 2025 as part of wider efforts to reduce dangerous small boat crossings across the English Channel. The arrangement, which has been extended until the end of September 2026, allows Britain to return migrants who arrive irregularly and are considered ineligible for asylum while accepting an equal number of eligible asylum seekers from France through approved legal routes.
By the end of June, UK authorities had recorded 1,117 migrants entering Britain through the legal component of the agreement, matching the number of individuals returned to France under the scheme.
The British and French governments argue that the policy helps discourage dangerous Channel crossings and weakens the business model of criminal people-smuggling networks. Officials say expanding legal pathways while returning those who arrive irregularly is intended to create a more controlled and orderly asylum system.
However, the agreement has attracted criticism from humanitarian organisations and refugee advocates, who argue that it places additional hardship on people fleeing conflict, persecution and political instability. Critics contend that many asylum seekers have already endured dangerous journeys and traumatic experiences before reaching Europe and should receive greater protection rather than being returned between countries.
The case also highlights the continuing uncertainty faced by many former Afghan military personnel who supported international forces before the Taliban’s return to power. Thousands remain displaced across the region, seeking long-term protection after fleeing Afghanistan in the aftermath of the 2021 political transition.
The United Kingdom continues to face significant migration pressures across the English Channel. More than 41,000 migrants reached the UK by small boat last year, making it the second-highest annual total since official records began in 2018. As Channel crossings continue, the effectiveness and humanitarian impact of the UK-France returns agreement remain at the centre of Europe’s broader migration debate.