Thousands of refugees who had worked alongside Western coalition forces before the Taliban takeover had moved to neighboring Pakistan for safety after the evacuation from the country.
They have lived in hotels funded by the UK government while awaiting permission to move to Britain, with some families waiting for almost two years.
Many had received UK visas ahead of they planned journey to Britain, but the documents have now expired due to delays in the UK relocation schemes for Afghan refugees.
The plan to use charter flights to relocate the refugees follows a decision by Pakistan to begin deporting illegal migrants in November.
Afghans in neighboring Pakistan include former translators who worked with the British Army, as well as teachers who were employed by the British Council.
UK government data shows that about 3,250 Afghans, including men, women and children, are living in temporary accommodation in Islamabad while they await decisions on applications to the resettlement schemes.
Many have no legal right to work in Pakistan, and their children are unable to access education due to a lack of documentation.
One of the refugees in Pakistan told the BBC: “I am just concerned what will happen if my family will not be on one of those flights until the end of December.
“My wife is pregnant, and if we don’t travel soon, we may have to wait into next year.”
The Independent reported that the first charter flight will take about 200 Afghans to the UK on Thursday.
It is believed that at least 12 flights will take place in a bid to relocate all 3,250 refugees by the end of the year.
A government spokesperson said: “The UK has made an ambitious and generous commitment to help at-risk people in Afghanistan and, so far, we have brought around 24,600 people to safety, including thousands of people eligible for our Afghan schemes.
“We continue to honor our commitments to bring eligible Afghans to the UK, with new arrivals going directly into settled accommodation where possible.”
Officials of the British High Commission have held a meeting with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) to discuss the possibility of arranging special flights to facilitate the resettlement of Afghan immigrants in the United Kingdom, confirmed a senior aviation official on Wednesday.
A large number of Afghan nationals, who collaborated with the UK during the presence of the foreign forces in their country, fled to neighboring states to seek international refuge after the Taliban swept back to power in Afghanistan two years ago.
Many of them are also stranded in Pakistan and currently await their relocation.
“A special delegation from the British High Commission, led by Political Consul Zoe Ware, held a meeting with senior officials of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority to discuss the arrangement of special flights for transporting Afghan immigrants for settlement in the UK,” PCAA spokesperson Saif Ullah told Arab News.
The meeting was attended by Air Commodore (r) Shahid Qadir, who led the PCAA team, as well as officials belonging to the Anti-Narcotic Forces, Federal Investigation Agency, Pakistan Customs, Airport Security Forces, and Pakistan International Airlines.
“The British government is thankful to Pakistan Civil Aviation for extending help with special flights for the transfer of Afghan immigrants to the UK,” a PCCA handout quoting the British political consul as saying.
According to the official data released by the UK authorities, about 24,600 people, who also include British nationals, successfully made their way to the United Kingdom by the end of March 2023.
Pakistan’s caretaker administration has given all “illegal immigrants,” mostly Afghan nationals, to leave the country by November 1 or face expulsion.