British Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed his hope that Afghanistan does not become “a breeding ground” for terrorists. Johnson emphasized the importance of “like-minded” countries recognizing a possible new government in Kabul with broad agreement after the Taliban will enter the presidential palace in Kabul after President Ashraf Ghani leaves the country.
Johnson said there is no “military solution” to the conflict in Afghanistan after an emergency cabinet security committee meeting on Saturday. The prime minister said that British troops who have died in the country since being sent there in 2001 have not done so “in vain” in light of the advance of the Taliban and added that Britain must not “turn its back on Afghanistan”.
Describing the situation as “very difficult,” Johnson said: “I think we have to be realistic about the power of the UK or any other power to impose a military solution in Afghanistan.”. The prime minister assured that certainly what his government can do is “working with all our partners around the world who share an interest in preventing Afghanistan from once again becoming a breeding ground for terror”.
But the Foreign Minister in the shadow of the Labor Party, Lisa nandy, I say that consider “all possible measures” and convening urgent meetings of the UN Security Council and NATO. Nandy said there was a “horror going on in Afghanistan” but that “it was not inevitable and we are not powerless”.
“The government must examine all possible measures to support the Afghan army so that it has the means and support to counterattack,” said Nandy, without clarifying whether this included military intervention. “The government should convene an urgent UN Security Council meeting to engage regional partners and garner support for the Afghan government. And Britain must play its role in international efforts to support refugees, including safe and legal routes,” added the labor leader.
Nancy continued to say: “We have an obligation to the people of Afghanistan who have suffered so much, but the government is sending all the wrong signals, cutting aid to a country facing a humanitarian crisis and delaying the resettlement of Afghans who supported the UK presence in the country. “
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democratic leader Ed davey demanded the reconvening of Parliament to discuss the deployment of UN peacekeeping forces in the country, ensuring: “The UK government should use its seat at the UN Security Council table to initiate consultations on the deployment of UN peacekeepers to Afghanistan”. UN peacekeeping forces operate with the consent of all parties to the conflict, would be impartial and would not use force except in self-defense and fulfilling their mandate.
After a Cobra contingency committee meeting, Johnson confirmed on Saturday that the “great majority” of the remaining employees of the UK embassy in Kabul would return in the coming days.. And he said the government is stepping up efforts to relocate Afghans who helped British forces during their stay in the country and now face retaliation. A team of Home Office staff is expected to join 600 British soldiers traveling to the country to help evacuate the remaining British citizens.
the retreat
Conservatives gave a mixed response to the withdrawal. former defense minister johnny mercer, who served as a soldier in the country, said that it was “deeply humiliating” to watch events unfold. “[El presidente estadounidense Joe] Biden made a big mistake here, but we also have a function. This idea that we cannot act unilaterally and support Afghan security forces is simply not true.“he told the BBC.
But the former Conservative Secretary of Foreign Affairs Lord Hammond I say that While the withdrawal of US forces was a “serious miscalculation” on the part of the US government, there was little the UK could do. “It’s not the British government’s fault, they really had no choice but to withdraw British troops as soon as the United States decided to withdraw American troops,” he told Times Radio.
almost twenty years
Despite spending nearly 20 years in Afghanistan, the international coalition failed to defeat the Taliban, which defended itself as an insurgent force after being quickly expelled from the government during the initial invasion. Control of the country has proved elusive for the current Afghan government and international forces, with the Taliban controlling both territories in August 2019 and 2001.
The Islamic militant group managed to occupy virtually all of Afghanistan after the United States announced it would withdraw the last troops by September. Most international combat forces withdrew between 2011 and 2016, and most disappeared in 2014. A force of 650 US troops is expected to remain in Afghanistan for diplomatic protection duties, up from 4,000 last year and 2,500 earlier this year .
Of The Independent From Great Britain. Special for page 12.
Translation: Celita Doyhambéhère.
.