Afghanistan: More British troops sent to Kabul as crisis deepens

British Forces have been racing to support British nationals and Afghan allies leaving the country.
British Forces have been racing to support British nationals and Afghan allies leaving the country.
Ben Shread/RAF/UK Ministry of Defence
Sophia Miller

By Sophia Miller


Published: 17/08/2021

- 06:43

Updated: 17/08/2021

- 11:58

There have been chaotic scenes at Kabul airport amid a desperate struggle to get UK nationals and Afghan allies out of the country.

2A further 200 UK troops are to be sent to Kabul to evacuate British citizens and local allies from Afghanistan as Dominic Raab said he would not rule out sanctions if the Taliban did not honour its commitments over human rights.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed to the PA news agency that more armed services personnel would be sent to Afghanistan after the Taliban seized control of Kabul.


It comes as Boris Johnson, in a phone call with French president Emmanuel Macron, outlined his intention to host a virtual meeting of G7 leaders on Afghanistan in the coming days to co-ordinate and international response.

There have been chaotic scenes at Kabul airport amid a desperate struggle to get UK nationals and selected Afghans out of the country.

The decision to fly in more armed forces personnel brings the total number of troops sent to the capital to urgently deal with the crisis to about 800.

It comes as Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that whether sanctions were sought against Afghanistan would “depend on the behaviour of the Taliban”.

Following a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee on Monday afternoon, he told broadcasters: “As I said, we’ll use every means at our disposal.

“We need to work with our partners, we need to broaden the caucus of countries that are willing to exercise positive influence, to rein in the worst excesses we saw in the past of the Taliban, and we need to consolidate and try and stabilise the gains – which are considerable – that we’ve made with so much blood, sweat, tears and loss of life, over 20 years, and that’s what we’re committed to doing.”

Mr Raab later held talks with his US counterpart Antony Blinken on the West’s approach to Afghanistan, as President Joe Biden said he stood “squarely behind” his decision to withdraw American forces.

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British troops are racing against the clock to get people out of Afghanistan following the dramatic fall of the western-backed government amid a rapid advance across the country by the Taliban.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who served in the Scots Guards, appeared to choke up as he spoke of his regret that “some people won’t get back” during morning interviews.

However, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said there was an “obligation” to those in Afghanistan who had helped the UK effort.

Military personnel have been leaving for Afghanistan to provide support to British nationals leaving the country over the last few days.
Military personnel have been leaving for Afghanistan to provide support to British nationals leaving the country over the last few days.
Sharon Floyd/RAF/UK Ministry of Defence

Former Grenadier Guard Julian Perreira, who has been campaigning for the safe exit of Afghan interpreters, said he feared following Mr Wallace’s statement that those who had helped British armed forces could be “left behind” despite facing possible execution.

An anonymous Afghan interpreter interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s PM said there are around 50 Afghans who had assisted troops waiting for flights to the UK while a further 200 employees – such as drivers and security guards – are waiting to find out about their eligibility to be relocated.

Speaking from a hideout, he implored ministers to resolve the situation within “hours”, adding that otherwise: “One day they will find us and they will kill us.”

The Government has come under sustained pressure over the situation in Afghanistan, with Conservative MPs criticising the handling of the crisis.

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