Britain Seeking Takers for Afghans Asking for Asylum
Russia and Pakistan are among countries Britain is hoping will take in 125 Afghans seeking asylum in the wake of the Ariana Airlines hijacking, the Home Office said Saturday.
“The government has contacted some other governments with a view to whether they would accept these people, including countries with large Afghan communities,” the spokesman said.
“We have made contacts with Pakistan and Russia, but so far there has been no decision from them,” he added. “Only 17 of the [142] freed hostages want to go home.”
The government has denied that passengers are being pressured not to claim asylum, but Home Secretary Jack Straw said he wants those who had been on board the pirated Boeing 727 removed from the country “as soon as practicably possible.”
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