Prague government has programme for Afghan collaborators, says Metnar

The Czech Republic has a programme to help Afghans who worked with Czech soldiers in their country and have remained there following the withdrawal of Western armies, the minister of defence, Lubomír Metnar, said on Wednesday. Speaking on Czech Television, Mr. Metnar said the provision of asylum to such persons had not been ruled out. The cabinet will discuss the matter at their next meeting.

Christian Democrat MP Jan Bartošek, who is on the lower house’s defence committee, said he welcomed the plan but that other countries had put such schemes in place more quickly.

Afghans who worked with international forces face the serious threat of reprisals from the Taliban.