Afghan troops blocked from joining British Army

Mirahmed Azimi, who led nearly 9,000 Afghan special forces units in their fight against the Taliban, told the newspaper he knew of as many as 30 or 40 Afghans who would sign up if the rules changed but most of them were “just cleaning and driving”.

He added: “They would be happy to go. There will be too many people. The only job they are keen for and already have the skills for is the military.

“Most of them are just going cleaning or driving but they don’t like it. These are really talented, fit and trustworthy people.

“I spent all my life in the military and to switch off and join the civilian world is difficult for me.

“I love to wear my uniform, I love to serve others. I would 100 per cent join the British Army because I love it.”

This is despite the recruitment crisis which has threatened to engulf all services within the military in recent years.

Earlier this year, The Telegraph revealed the Navy had so few sailors it has had to decommission ships to staff its new fleet of frigates, while employment for both the RAF and Army has also fallen.

Government figures uncovered in March showed three quarters of would-be recruits drop out of the military’s application process because it takes too long.

In the past 10 years, 83 per cent of the 707,000 people who applied to join the Army voluntarily withdrew their application, and fewer than 80,000 were recruited.