Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised not to abandon UK allies left behind in Afghanistan after the Taliban’s rapid takeover of the country.
The prime minister said the UK would do everything possible to help Afghans who worked for British forces get out safely.
He told Members of Parliament that 311 such Afghans eligible for relocation to the UK had not been evacuated in time.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer blamed this on the PM’s “lack of leadership”.
Updating MPs as they return from their summer recess, Johnson said the government’s obligation towards Afghans who helped the UK, would live on after the withdrawal of British troops last week.
He said the UK would exert economic and diplomatic pressure on the Taliban to provide them with safe routes out of the country.
Also updating Members of Parliament, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he had discussed organising safe passage through Qatar and Pakistan during meetings with their leaders last week.
He said he had discussed how the UK could help organise flights from Kabul airport, where international flights have been grounded since the withdrawal of US troops at the end of August.
