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
Secretary Ben Wallace insists Nato will not return to Kabul as Taliban take control
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has acknowledged that the Taliban “are in control” of Afghanistan – but he insisted Nato will not be returning to take over Kabul.
On UK troop numbers, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “We’ve put in an extra 600 troops, taking the total to over 700, and we have contingencies for more. The initial plan is for them to be there for as long as needed or indeed towards the end of the month.”
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think what was the surprise was the speed at which we find ourselves with the Taliban in Kabul. I think people had felt that, over the 20 years, the investment in the Afghan forces, the Afghan government would have allowed a more transitional process. I think the US Trump deal was incredibly optimistic about that.”
UK military personnel prior to boarding an RAF Voyager aircraft at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, as part of a 600-strong UK-force sent to assist with the operation to rescue British nationals in Afghanistan.
Afghan events a ‘humiliating moment for the West’ – ex-national security adviser
Taliban control of Afghanistan is a “humiliating moment for the West”, former national security adviser Lord Sedwill has said.
The crossbench peer and former cabinet secretary warned that “extremists everywhere will be emboldened”, following the dramatic fall of the country’s Western-backed government.
The former Nato senior civilian representative in Afghanistan and ex-UK ambassador to Afghanistan told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We must be clear about this, this is a humiliating moment for the West.
“Afghan citizens are fearful, extremists everywhere will be emboldened. They’ve been quieter since the end of the Islamic State, they will be emboldened and of course our authoritarian opponents will undoubtedly be saying already that they have the strategic patience that we lack, so it’s a very bad day.”
John Bolton, former national security adviser to Donald Trump, said the withdrawal of Western troops was a “big mistake”, adding: “It was an insurance policy against the potential of future terrorist attacks and now we risk paying a very, very severe price.”
UK military personnel prior to boarding an RAF Voyager aircraft at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, as part of a 600-strong UK-force sent to assist with the operation to rescue British nationals in Afghanistan.
The US military is struggling to manage a chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan as the Taliban patrolled the capital and tried to project calm after toppling the Western-backed government.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace admitting that “some people won’t get back” from Afghanistan as a desperate struggle to get UK nationals and local allies out of the country continued.
Johnson should apologise to troops and families over Afghanistan, says Tory MP
A Conservative MP has called for Boris Johnson to apologise to the families of people who died in Afghanistan.
John Baron, MP for Basildon and Billericay, has joined other politicians in criticising the UK Government as remaining UK nationals and their local allies try to flee the country following the collapse of Western-backed authorities.
Mr Baron, who said he was the only Tory MP to oppose intervention in Afghanistan and voted against it in 2010, has been consistently critical of the campaign.
He said: “The fundamental error was allowing the initial limited and successful mission of expelling al Qaida from Afghanistan in 2001 to morph into the much wider mission of nation-building in the following years, which meant we had to take on the Taliban.
“This wider mission was born of ignorance, was unrealistic in its aims, poorly executed and thoroughly under-resourced – even the withdrawal is a shambles.
“Our intervention now brings its responsibilities. In addition to getting our nationals out safely, the international community must now stand by those fleeing the country in fear of their lives, including those who helped British forces.
“As a country, we need to do our bit to reach out and welcome the refugees and asylum-seekers. The priority now is to save lives.
“On behalf of previous Governments, the Prime Minister should apologise to the bereaved families of service personnel, and to those personnel who are still paying the price for this folly.
“We also need to examine the lessons from yet another foolhardy intervention – for example, while always maintaining our guard against terrorism, it has distracted us from the bigger threat of hostile nation states.”