Afghanistan: Troop withdrawal and Taliban takeover

Top lines

British and American forces are leaving Afghanistan as the Taliban seize most of the country. The Taliban has reached the capital, Kabul, and the Afghan President has fled the country.

A withdrawal against the backdrop of a worsening security situation was clearly not envisaged, and leaves the Afghan Government, its people and its armed forces at clear risk of a return to Taliban rule.

The UK Government must do what it can to support the establishment of a transitional government which includes all Afghan tribes and members of the previous government. It must also ensure the safety of remaining British service personnel, British citizens and those working for British organisations that face acute risks on the ground.

The security situation in Afghanistan has serious implications for the security of the UK and its allies. Taliban rule could facilitate a resurgence of ISIS and al-Qaeda, which has been held at bay by NATO presence in Afghanistan since 2001.

Afghanistan sits between the three primary state-based threats identified by the Government’s Integrated Review – Russia, China and Iran. The withdrawal of NATO and the inability of the Afghan government to maintain internal security provides an opportunity for malign actors who may threaten and ultimately undermine our interests abroad.

Photo credit: Children playing on tank carcass, taken on Bibi Maru Hill, Kabul, Afghanistan, 10 December 2005. Swiss.frog via Flickr.