Afghan special forces could be recruited into a new regiment of the British Army under proposals being considered by ministers, it has been reported.
The plans for the commandos, who UK troops helped train, have been backed by MPs who served in Afghanistan.
The Daily Telegraph reported the proposals could see the Afghans form their own regiment in the Army, similar to the Gurkhas.
And it said that Afghans already enrolled at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, who had been due to join the Afghan National Army, could now join the British Army instead.
The Afghan special forces played a key role in the evacuation effort from Kabul by heading into crowds to find those eligible for evacuation and handing them over to British forces.
The chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee, Tom Tugendhat, said the personnel should be welcomed into the Army.
The Tory MP, who served in Afghanistan, told The Telegraph: “We trained and fought alongside many Afghans who are now in the UK.
“They’ve proved their loyalty a thousand times.
“If they want to serve, we should welcome them, I would love to see a regiment of Afghan scouts.”
Fellow Conservative Tobias Ellwood, who is chairman of the Defence Select Committee and also a veteran, added: “Given that we’ve helped train these forces, it’s certainly something that needs to be a consideration.
“One avenue is they are kept as a unit, as the Gurkhas have operated.
“The other avenue is they are blended into our own system.”
Former veterans minister Johnny Mercer also said it would be an “absolute waste not to make use of” the Afghan troops.
The Ministry of Defence said it was “assessing how to best support them and utilise their skills and expertise going forward”.
