Former General Sir Mike Jackson has appealed to the British government to not abandon Afghan interpreters who helped the British army.
In an open letter in The Times, Sir Mike said Britain has a "moral obligation" to offer them asylum.
The letter said the 600 interpreters who have served British forces in Afghanistan live in fear of Taliban reprisals.
Britain is the only NATO country yet to offer asylum to its Afghan interpreters. Around 20 interpreters have been killed in action, dozens more have been wounded and five others have been killed while off duty.
The BBC reports the letter was also signed by former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown, Royal United Services Institute director Michael Clarke, author and ex-army officer Patrick Hennessey, and veteran Jake Wood.
It detailed how last week an interpreter and his family had gone into hiding after receiving a call from the Taliban threatening to punish him for helping the British.
"The British military's job would have been impossible without interpreters, who risked their lives and made extraordinary sacrifices," the letter said.
