"I wish I had never worked for the UK government," said one Afghan contractor.

Ammar brought a bundle of papers that are now among his most valuable possessions in a plain white plastic bag.

We couldn't have visited him at home because it would have drawn too much attention. Instead, he would ride his motorbike to meet us somewhere safe, fearing that if he stopped at a Taliban checkpoint to be inspected, they may discover the paperwork.

The papers, which he believes will assist him and his family reach safety, contained his two-year contract as a teacher with the British Council and other proof of his connection to the UK. Because of his employment with the UK government, he is afraid for his life.

"In Afghanistan, we imparted the ideals and culture of the UK. Along with teaching English, we also covered topics like inclusiveness, diversity, and equality. They [the Taliban] believe it is against the law because it violates Islam. They believe we are criminals and ought to be punished as a result. We feel intimidated because of this, he remarked.

He thinks that his job has placed his family in danger as well because the Taliban had previously imprisoned him.

"They brought me to the police station where they questioned me about whether I had ever worked for a foreign government. Fortunately, they didn't discover any proof on my phone or at my house.

"However, I don't believe it's the end. They are watching me closely.

A year of Taliban rule from Kabul and beyond

The Taliban: who are they?

Ammar is one of more than 100 instructors who held positions in the public eye while working for the British Council and were left behind in Afghanistan. Numerous of them are female.

Nooria took part in a program to teach English as well.

"It was difficult for us. Some individuals held extreme views and frequently said, "What you are teaching is unacceptable to us." We were regarded as ambassadors for the British government everywhere we went.

"Some believed we were British spies." She claims that this puts her and her family in danger in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

There is growing evidence of retaliation killings, despite the group's announcement of a general amnesty for everyone who worked for the old administration and its sympathizers. 160 instances have been reported to the UN.

Since the Taliban seized control in August of last year, Nooria has been hiding.

"It's quite demanding. It's worse than living in prison. We are not allowed to roam freely. When we walk outside, we strive to modify how we seem. I've seen a mental impact. Sometimes I feel like the world is ending "She said.

She claims that the British Council discriminates against its employees.

"We were left behind while they moved people who worked in the office. When the Afghan Relocation Assistance Policy (ARAP) was introduced, they didn't even inform us about it."

Nooria and the other teachers have now submitted an application for relocation under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), another UK program, but thus yet have only gotten reference numbers.

According to the British Council, the UK government initially only accepted applications from workers, including their office personnel, and did not take into account those from teachers or other contractors.

They add that they have been pressing the UK government for advancement.

The British Council contractors are eligible for relocation under the ACRS program, according to the UK Foreign Office, which is working fast to process applications but has not provided a time estimate.

"I don't think they might move quickly unless a contractor dies. They could then believe that they are in danger. Let's go to work now. This will occur sooner or later, in my opinion "said Ammar.

Some of the instructors are members of the Hazara ethnic minority, which has endured Taliban persecution and ongoing attacks by Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), the Islamic State group's regional offshoot. In only the last 10 days, there have been three explosions in Kabul neighborhoods with a high Hazara population.

For individuals who served in other capacities with the UK government, the road to safety is much less guaranteed.

Jaffer assisted Afghan development programs sponsored by the UK government in their execution as a senior consultant.

He was hired directly by British businesses, some of which the UK government had formed and others with whom it had awarded contracts. He also performed comparable duties for the US government, especially at military locations.

Jaffer had already been threatened by the Taliban before to 2021, during a spate of assassinations the organization conducted out that targeted important members of Afghan civic society.

He displayed a memo to us in which he was accused of spying for other countries and threatened with death for his "betrayal of the Islamic religion."

Seven times since August of last year, Jaffer has changed addresses.

He displayed a letter from the interior ministry of the Taliban ordering him to appear to a police station for questioning that had been delivered to his home earlier this year. Three such letters have been sent to him.

"Stress and shock sent me to the hospital. I have trouble falling asleep. Even though the doctor gave me powerful medications, they don't seem to be very helpful. My wife also struggles with depression. My kids are not allowed to attend school. I worry that they may be identified "said he.

Due to his inability to obtain a reference letter from his boss, who passed away due to Covid-19, Jaffer has been denied a special immigrant visa (SIV) by the US.

Jaffer had been summoned to the airport by a UK diplomat during the chaotic exodus that followed the Taliban's unexpectedly swift takeover of Afghanistan. He spent six hours in a bus outside the airport with his wife and two young children.

"My son was ill, but we were unable to even open the bus's windows due to the desperate attempts of others outside to exit the vehicle. The Taliban were launching air strikes. My youngster witnessed that and was severely traumatized."

On the same day, suicide bombers assaulted the airport and murdered more than 180 people.

Jaffer and his family were unable to make it through the UK on-the-ground evacuation process.

Since then, the UK government has only provided him with a case number in response to his application to the ARAP program.

"I collaborated with them. They were helped by me. Because we persuaded people to let the projects go, our Afghans on the ground did not despise them [foreign nationals]. We dealt with the dangers and now look at me. There is nowhere in the entire globe where I can live in safety and dignity "He remarked, his voice trembling as he did so.

What will the future hold for my children?

My daughter is unable to learn. I had really high hopes for her. Will my little boys grow up to be radicals? I'm always wondering why I brought kids into the world. Perhaps they shouldn't be living if this is what their future holds "said he.

At least three additional individuals who worked for the UK government were also interviewed, including a combat interpreter who accompanied British soldiers to the front lines. All of them discussed feeling betrayed by the ones they sacrificed their lives for.

In August of last year, the UK government evacuated 15,000 individuals, and 5,000 additional people since then.

However, countless more people are still holding out, going through each day in terror and uncertainty while eagerly scanning their email inboxes for a shred of hope.

Nooria stated, "I used to feel pleased to work for the UK government".

"But now I wish I hadn't. They don't appreciate our lives or our labor, and they have been cruel in leaving us behind, therefore I wish I had never worked for them."