UK MPs criticize govt for bungling Afghanistan withdrawal

KABUL (Tolo News): A report from the Foreign Affairs Committee of the UK parliament criticized the UK government for its role in the systematic failure of the withdrawal from Afghanistan in August. “The manner of our withdrawal from Afghanistan was a disaster and a betrayal of our allies that will damage the UK’s interests for years to come,” the report said.
The report covers a timeline including 2020, 2021 and 2022. “On 8 July 2021, the Prime Minister told the House that there was “no military path to victory for the Taliban.” Just over five weeks later, the military path delivered them Kabul. This points to serious gaps in the understanding of Afghanistan on the part of the UK and its allies, a failure to appreciate the limitations of that understanding, and ministers’ failure to interrogate or question the advice,” the report read. The report also called for the UK government to re-establish a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan as soon as it is safe to do so, and to work with those on the ground who can support civil society.
The Islamic Emirate urged the international community to engage in official relations with the caretaker government of Afghanistan. “We hope the US, UK and other western countries be able to make the decision to engage in official relations with the Afghan government,” said Inamullah Samangani, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.
The report called on the international community to deliver clear, consistent messages to the Islamic Emirate as far as possible and to support international efforts to track and monitor commitments made by the Islamic Emirate and “hold the regime accountable for its actions.” “The report of Britain shows the deadline was determined by the US and the UK needed to follow even the August 31 deadline,” said Torek Farhadi, a political analyst. “The reports suggests the (UK government) form a good policy toward Afghanistan for the future,” said Sayed Jawad Sijadi, an international relations analyst.