UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has stated that “the Taliban are in control of Afghanistan” and that British troops “are not going back”.
“I acknowledge that the Taliban are in control […]. I mean, you don’t have to be a political scientist to spot that’s where we’re at”, Wallace told Sky News on Monday.
When asked whether the UK and NATO would return to Afghanistan, Wallace said: “That’s not on the cards […] we’re [not] going to go back”.
The defence secretary added that said the military side of the Kabul Airport was secure, with the UK doing its best to evacuate British citizens and Afghans with links to Britain.
“Our target is […] about 1,200 to 1,500 exit [sic] a day in the capacity of our aeroplanes, and we’ll keep that flow”, he said.
The statement comes after Taliban spokesperson Mohammad Naeem told Al-Jazeera on Sunday that the war in Afghanistan is “over”, and that the form of the regime in the country will soon be made clear.
He also called on foreign diplomatic missions to be “in complete confidence” that there is no danger for them in Afghanistan, as the “forces of the Islamic Emirate are tasked with maintaining security in Kabul and other cities in the country”.
