London: A prominent UK TV personality and a former commando whom Prince Harry dubbed a "hero" have teamed up to support a campaign to allow a former Afghan Air Force pilot to remain in Britain.

The host of "Piers Morgan Uncensored" on TalkTV, Piers Morgan, stated to his audience that the UK had a "moral compulsion" to grant asylum to the unnamed pilot who had previously been threatened with deportation to Rwanda during an interview with the former Chief of the General Staff, Richard Dannatt.

It is a flagrant violation of our moral obligation as a nation. Morgan proclaimed, "This man is a hero.

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A former US coworker referred to the pilot as a "patriot" after he flew 30 combat missions against Taliban rebels while cooperating with British forces.

The Home Office warned him that he might be deported because he had crossed the English Channel in a small boat to enter the country illegally from Afghanistan and had travelled through several secure nations en route to Britain.

Morgan continued, "I think this is a really important battle. My brother was a colonel in Afghanistan. Even though it may only be one man, he stands in for many others who made significant sacrifices, including many who gave their lives.

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And he is unable to return because doing so would result in the Taliban pursuing and killing him. He must be terrified of what will transpire. We're going to continue working on No. 10.

Dannatt added that he would be "very surprised" if (Prime Minister) Rishi Sunak or (Defence Secretary) Ben Wallace didn't "push this through," and that "the idea that he could be extradited is abhorrent. At this time, they should exercise caution and subtly announce that his family will join them.

A campaign to support the pilot was started by the Independent newspaper, and Dannatt is one of the 50,000 supporters. Ex-RAF commander Air Marshal Edward Stringer, former NATO supremo George Robertson, and British Labour Party leader Keir Starmer have all gotten behind the cause.

Ben McBean, a former Royal Marine who underwent two amputees after suffering a critical injury in 2008 while serving in Afghanistan, has also backed calls for the pilot to stay in the UK.

Prince Harry referred to McBean as a "hero" and he stated: "Anyone who went against them (the Taliban), who was on our side, everyone respected them — Afghan national army, Afghan national police, Afghan Air Force. Everyone respected some of the elders we used to talk to who were fighting for their land.

"And if I were to say that they are in danger over there, would you mind if they came here to start a new life right away? I fail to understand why anyone would object to that.

"People have been left behind, forgotten about, and are hiding because of the way that we just left, making it almost impossible for them to get here safely. Unfortunately, I'm not surprised by what's happened," he continued.

Gen. Richard Barrons, a former head of joint operations who was stationed in Afghanistan, said it was "not surprising" the pilot had to enter Britain illegally "considering the mess the (UK) government made with the evacuation process."

After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the pilot previously told the Independent that there was no other way for him to get to the UK besides the one he used.

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What safe and legal route existed after Afghanistan's fall? You came into Afghanistan on day one as a friendly and brotherly nation, and now this unfortunate day has befallen us. He urged the UK government to "fulfil the friendship and cooperation pledge you made and keep it."

"The British and American forces have forgotten about us. As if they were our brothers, we collaborated with them and offered assistance. Why are they abandoning us in such a manner when we are neither Talib nor (Daesh)?