NEW Ministers ignored warning 8 months ago that the US withdrawal would destabilise Afghan government and cannot say that “no one foresaw or predicted the consequences” - by me and @RaynerSkyNews news.sky.com/story/afghanis…
A report presented to the government in January called for an urgent assessment of the risks of withdrawal.
Ministers, it said, had “shown little inclination to exert an independent voice on policy in Afghanistan”
Ministers, it said, had “shown little inclination to exert an independent voice on policy in Afghanistan”
The Conservative chair of the Lords international affairs and defence committee, Baroness Anelay, told @SkyNews she was “very disappointed” that no such assessment was provided when the government responded in March.
“It seems they blindsided themselves”
“It seems they blindsided themselves”
One of the authors, crossbench peer Lord Alton said the report was “excoriating” “very prescient”. He added “let no one suggest that no one foresaw or predicted the consequences” of the withdrawal.
The committee consulted dozens of experts including former chief of defence staff, ministers and former national security adviser.
They said the troop pullout must be tied to negotiated settlement being reached between Taliban and Afghan govt at talks in Doha
They said the troop pullout must be tied to negotiated settlement being reached between Taliban and Afghan govt at talks in Doha
The government’s response, in March, said the UK’s position was to “liaise closely with our US allies through nato as well as bilaterally in order to understand any developments as early as possible, so that we can make appropriate plans both nationally and within NATO”
Armed forces minister James Heappey tells @SkyNews evacuation plans were in place - but needed more quickly than expected.
"Absolutely we've been blindsided by the collapse of the Afghan government and the speed with which they were able to take control", he says.
"Absolutely we've been blindsided by the collapse of the Afghan government and the speed with which they were able to take control", he says.
The minister said British embassy security guards - who it was reported would be left behind - will be evacuated.
"I can tell you that they have arrived at the airport this morning and will be flown out later today."
"I can tell you that they have arrived at the airport this morning and will be flown out later today."
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