London, UK – Sunday 20 July, 2025 – The Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA), a London-based charity dedicated to helping refugees integrate, was founded by Nooralhaq Nasimi in 1999. Nasimi himself had fled Taliban-held Afghanistan for Britain, facing many difficulties in his journey. However, he persevered and today, nearly three decades later, his son Darius Nasimi works alongside him, running the ACAA. The charity now has branches across the country, helping refugees from various countries integrate into British society.
Nooralhaq Nasimi’s journey to building a new life in Britain was not an easy one. He faced administrative and personal challenges, but managed to gain a law degree, learn English, and even receive an honorary doctorate and an MBE. His work, along with his son’s, aims to build bridges between Britain and Afghanistan, two countries that have a shared history and tragic past.
One of the main goals of the ACAA is to build relationships between refugees and their host nation. However, in recent years, this has become increasingly difficult, especially in light of recent events.
The news that the previous government had set up a secret relocation scheme, the Afghan Response Route (ARR), for 20,000 people at a cost of £2bn after a 2023 data breach in the Ministry of Defence has caused a political sensation. The breach put the lives of thousands of Afghans at risk.
Over the course of 20 years, between 2001 and 2021, over 150,000 UK Armed Forces personnel served in Afghanistan. Sadly, 457 lost their lives in the line of duty and 2,188 were wounded in action between 2006 and 2014. Many Afghans also worked alongside these troops as interpreters and in other capacities. However, after Western forces left Afghanistan in 2021 and the Taliban took control, these individuals were left behind and feared for their lives.
In February 2023, Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood spoke out about the situation, saying, “The withdrawal from Afghanistan was a dark chapter in UK military history. For the Afghans who cooperated with the UK, and the British troops who served in the country, the nightmare is far from over. They are at risk of harm as a direct result of assisting the UK mission. We can’t change the events that unfolded in August 2021, but we owe it to those Afghans, who placed their lives in danger to help us, to get them and their families to safety.”
Ellwood’s words still ring true today. The two-year cover-up by the British government of the ARR does nothing to change the fact that these individuals risked their lives to help British forces and deserve a safe home, just like the one Nooralhaq Nasimi was able to find in Britain.
Darius Nasimi, founder of the Afghanistan Government in Exile (AGiE), continues to advocate for the safety and well-being of those left behind in Afghanistan. “The people of Afghanistan deserve better than to be abandoned by their allies. We must continue to work towards a solution that ensures the safety and security of all those who risked their lives for us,” says Nasimi.
The news of the ARR and the subsequent cover-up by the previous government has caused outrage and calls for action. The ACAA and other organizations are urging the current government to take immediate action and provide a safe haven for these brave individuals and their families.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.