Afghanistan crisis RECAP What is happening in Afghanistan today | Joe Biden speech reaction | Dominic Raab defends UK Government
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Afghanistan crisis RECAP: Latest news and updates
Key Events
- ‘Women’s rights very important under our rule', claims Taliban
- Britain did not see Taliban takeover coming, Foreign Secretary says
- PM to unveil plan to let vulnerable Afghans set up home in UK
- Prince Harry encourages veterans to ‘support one another’ amid Taliban takeover
Keir Starmer to question Johnson on his plan for safe refugee passage out of Afghanistan
Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has said he will ask the Prime Minister on Wednesday what the plan is for the safe passage of refugees out of Afghanistan.
Speaking with the PA news agency and asked how many refugees the UK should take from the Afghanistan situation, Sir Keir said: “Before we get to a number, the first question is getting our international partners round a table, including neighbouring countries to Afghanistan, to draw up an urgent plan for the safe and legal exit of refugees that inevitably will flow from this.
“I want to hear from the Prime Minister tomorrow, it is one of the questions we have for him, is what is that plan for refugees because we need to know and tomorrow’s the time for the Prime Minister to answer that question.”
Asked if there should there be a limit on the number of refugees coming from Afghanistan, Sir Keir said: “There are a number of people in Afghanistan, Afghans, to whom we owe an obligation and we must get them out just as quickly and as safely as possible. We should be broad in that.
“They have given up a huge amount for us and we owe them that obligation, everybody understands that.
“More broadly, I don’t think a question of numbers at this stage is a helpful discussion. The first discussion has to be: is there a plan, is there a strategy of safe and legal routes for refugees to come out of Afghanistan, and how quickly can that be put in place? That’s the question that I and many people, I think, are going to be putting to the Prime Minister tomorrow.”
Taliban spokesman said women’s rights are “very important”
Zabihullah Mujahid told journalists in Kabul: “The Islamic Emirate is committed to the rights of women within the framework of Sharia.
“Our sisters … have the same rights, will be able to benefit from their rights. They can have activities in different sectors and different areas on the basis of our rules and regulations, educational, health and other areas.
“They are going to be working with us, shoulder to shoulder with us, and the international community – if they have concerns – we would like to assure them that there is not going to be any discrimination against women, but of course within the frameworks that we have.”
UK Armed forces enable relocation of ‘eligible’ Afghan civilians
The image shows eligible Afghan civilians walking onto an RAF aircraft at Kabul as part of Operation PITTING, in which UK Armed Forces are enabling the relocation of personnel from Afghanistan.
Afghan refugees: Council chiefs 'committed' to helping people fleeing the Taliban
'Edinburgh has a long and proud history of welcoming people escaping desperate circumstances such as this.'
Edinburgh City Council leaders say they are ‘committed’ to helping ‘those fleeing for their lives’ from Afghanistan.
Scottish group compares 'sex-based rights' plight to Taliban in deleted tweet
Scottish group compares 'sex-based rights' plight to Taliban in deleted tweet
In a deleted tweet, a Scottish group which campaigns for ‘sex-based rights’ has said that the Taliban ‘also know what same-sex attraction is.’