RAF chief Air Marshal Edward Stringer backs our campaign: We must give asylum to Afghan pilot who risked his life for us

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Air Marshal Edward Stringer, who was also director of operations at the Ministry of Defence, has backed The Independent’scampaign to grant the Afghan veteran asylum – saying: “Now is the time for us to demonstrate the decency on which we so pride ourselves”. “We owe them all a debt of honour and should offer them asylum, and the security we promised them, in the UK – not least because we could not guarantee them safety and security in Afghanistan.” Air Marshal Stringer led the 904 Expeditionary Air Wing in Afghanistan in 2008 working with Nato and Afghan forces and was also the director general of the UK’s Joint Force Development, training across the military. He continued: “The Taliban knows as well as we do that we helped train the Afghan pilots and we should stand by those brave men – like the pilot The Independent is campaigning for – now.” He joins a number of growing voices supporting our campaign – including former head of the army Sir Richard Dannatt, former Nato chief Lord Robertson and Gen Sir Richard Barrons, a former chief of joint operations who served in Afghanistan – in urging the government to look into the pilot’s case. open image in gallery Air Marshal Stringer led the 904 Expeditionary Air Wing in Afghanistan in 2008 working with Nato and Afghan forces He says he is one of many Afghan forces personnel who have made their way to the UK via small boat because they could not find a safe or legal route.