The Government will carefully consider the residence application from an Afghan interpreter who worked with New Zealand forces but at this point nothing can be guaranteed, Prime Minister John Key says.
The interpreter says he was abducted by the Taliban and held for three days before escaping, Radio New Zealand reports.
He believes his life is at risk because he worked with New Zealand forces in Afghanistan from 2006 to mid-2013.
Labour and the Greens says if there's a genuine risk the application should be fast-tracked.
"It depends on the circumstances of their employment and how much at risk we believe they are," Mr Key told reporters.
"The interpreters we've taken were widely recognised as being at risk so we looked after them but not everyone assigned to us had that profile."
Mr Key says all the Afghans who worked with New Zealand forces were free to apply for residence. "We look at it case by case but I can't guarantee anything."
The interpreter applied for residence in November last year. So far 39 Afghan interpreters have been granted residence.
(3news)
The interpreter says he was abducted by the Taliban and held for three days before escaping, Radio New Zealand reports.
He believes his life is at risk because he worked with New Zealand forces in Afghanistan from 2006 to mid-2013.
Labour and the Greens says if there's a genuine risk the application should be fast-tracked.
"It depends on the circumstances of their employment and how much at risk we believe they are," Mr Key told reporters.
"The interpreters we've taken were widely recognised as being at risk so we looked after them but not everyone assigned to us had that profile."
Mr Key says all the Afghans who worked with New Zealand forces were free to apply for residence. "We look at it case by case but I can't guarantee anything."
The interpreter applied for residence in November last year. So far 39 Afghan interpreters have been granted residence.
(3news)
Source : Afghan Voice Agency (AVA), International Service
