The UK Government have deleted the account of the British Embassy in Afghanistan from Twitter.

We’ve reached out for comment.

British troops have now entered the final stages of the evacuation from Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul.

According to a spokesman for the Prime Minister, the UK has evacuated more than 12,000 people from Afghanistan “and our teams are working hard to make sure they continue to be supported as they rebuild their lives here in the UK”.

According to a statement posted by the Ministry of Defence:

“Following our pre-planned timetable, processing facilities inside the Baron Hotel in Kabul have been closed. This will enable us to focus our efforts on evacuating the British nationals and others we have processed and who are at the airport awaiting departure.

The UK’s ability to process further cases is now extremely reduced and additional numbers will be limited. No further people will be called forward to the airport for evacuation. Evacuating all those civilians we have already processed will free up the capacity needed on UK military aircraft to bring out our remaining diplomats and military personnel.”

The MoD add that the decision to close the evacuating handling centre was made by the Chief of Joint Operations and authorised by the Defence Secretary. It reflects the latest understanding of the situation on the ground.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

“Our top priority as we move through this process will be the protection of all those involved who are operating in a heightened threat environment. It is with deep regret that not everyone has been able to be evacuated during this process. But I am proud of this remarkable achievement from our Border Force, Armed Forces, MOD, FCDO, Home Office who have evacuated over 13,000 people in 14 days during Operation Pitting. We will continue to honour our debt to all those who have not yet been able to leave Afghanistan. We will do all that we can to ensure they reach safety.”

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago

They had 18 months to prepare.

End.

ChariotRider
ChariotRider
2 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

Yup!

Prior Planning and Preparation Prevents P**s Poor Performance…

Should be walled papered onto every minister’s office wall judging by recent performances. I know the pandemic has been the focus, but surely the UK Government can deal with more than one thing at a time! If not then God help us!

CR

Graham Moore
Graham Moore
2 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

2 PARA were given a few hours to prepare. Curse those politicians.

Hunter
Hunter
2 years ago
Reply to  Graham Moore

Yeah, but it’s what the Paras are great at, short notice type stuff.

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago
Reply to  Graham Moore

PARA needed seconds to kick off in the Rat Pit on a Friday night in Aldershot 😉

Airborne
Airborne
2 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

Ah the rat pit, those were the days!

Hunter
Hunter
2 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

Turned into a shi£ Show

Pete
Pete
2 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

Not much has been said about it but the foresight of the Turks to secure Kabul airport several weeks early shows to myself that the events that unfolded were indeed foreseeable.

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago
Reply to  Pete

Great heads up! Linky?

Andy P
Andy P
2 years ago
Reply to  Pete

Quite an enlightening read there Pete, cheers for sharing it.

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago
Reply to  Pete

Thanks Pete.

Frank62
Frank62
2 years ago

Well done for all involved. I’d like to have seen many 1,000s more flown out to safety nearby to be processed where it’s far safer rather than holding masses of rightly terrified people back while we slowly process them. Why couldn’t incoming aircraft bring in food & water for those desperate people?
Still appalled & ashamed at the disasterous way Biden triggered the disaster.

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago
Reply to  Frank62

You know, you’re not wrong. We, NATO, could have taken 1000s out and processed them in a safer environment.

Those eligible forwarded to new homes.

I’m so uninpressed by this shambles of a Govt.

End

Damo
Damo
2 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

Genuine open question. Reckon Corbyn and labour would have handled this humanitarian crisis better?

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  Damo

Less worse you ask…Corbyn would probably have the British Revolutionary Army have joint training with Taliban to boost “diversity”

Damo
Damo
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

Hahahaha

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago
Reply to  Damo

It is not a genuine question and certainly not open.

It’s a clear attempt at deflection using a person who almost no one in this forum would have voted for.

And yet history will judge him too and although I don’t like Corbyn when Lord Chief Justice https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Bingham,_Baron_Bingham_of_Cornhill made a strong case against Iraq, perhaps listening to other views is not such a bad thing.

However, are you suggesting we have a fantastic Prime Minister and Cabinet?

Damo
Damo
2 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

Certainly not. I’m no Tory. Idea popped into my head. Would a self proclaimed more people leader have done better?

James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

What exactly are you proposing the government did, sent an expeditionary force of many thousands into Afghanistan weeks ago to start the process? I totally agree what has happened either was expected and if it wasnt it should have been a scenario and planned for better. However we are not alone, a day before Kabul fell it was all over the news that US intelligence expected Kabul would take 30 days to fall. The UK, France, Germany, Australia etc etc all reacted at the same time so are all of the governments of all of these countries equally as bad… Read more »

Jacko
Jacko
2 years ago
Reply to  James

And what Govt has stayed to the last but one minute?
UK I believe!

James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  Jacko

Well its interesting that Turkey are planning on staying after everyone else has left to ‘secure’ the airport, not entirely sure what gains Erdogan is planning on reaping by out staying his welcome with the Taliban.

grizzler
grizzler
2 years ago
Reply to  James

Yes, yes they are. Trying to deflect by asking if Corbyn could do better , or if other countries are as bad etc. is irrelevant.We have made a pigs ear out of this , a giant cluster fuck. It is that bad some of me can’t help but think it was planned that way.We are only ‘bettered in our shitness’ by gud ol’ Uncle Sam – and doddering senile ol’ Great-Uncle Joe. Jokers all.

James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  grizzler

O.k so everyone is as utterly useless as each other then, why dont people say that as opposed to just constantly slagging off our own? The Corbyn point as irrelevant as it is as thank god he didnt get in does raise a point, we wouldnt even be in the place trying to rescue people for a start. Fortunately for all those who did get rescued by our apparently useless government should be very thankful of the situation they find themselves in. I however do agree that what has happened wasnt unknown or a total surprise, a much bigger picture… Read more »

Expat
Expat
2 years ago
Reply to  James

There would have still been Brits to rescue as their would be nationals visiting family and NGOs. You comment shows lack of understanding of the world outside of the west. I was in Timor were Britain played no part militarily but there were Brits there non the less.

Pete
Pete
2 years ago
Reply to  Expat

No UK military.. apart from a troop of SBS, plus some RM Commando,, Gurkhas, plus HMS glasgow plus some air assets….

Expat
Expat
2 years ago
Reply to  Pete

Should have clarified, the second crisis in 2006. Don’t believe British military was involved in 2006 at least not any that I was aware of..

Pete
Pete
2 years ago
Reply to  Expat

Yes. That makes more sense..I was commuting between Indonesia and Malaysia during the first crisis which was more of a counter insurgency/ Indonesian encroachment issue. Was in South Asia by 2006.

James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  Expat

Thats mildly ironic as ive lived in the middle east for the last ten years.

Expat
Expat
2 years ago
Reply to  grizzler

But it is relevant the fact we have a Torry government is because the main opposition wasn’t credible even for many life long labour voters. It cause an effect.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  Damo

Agreed.

Magenta
Magenta
2 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

I think he is wrong and I think you are too.

Now that you have thousands of people in a third country and you discover that the majority are not eligible because you did not screen/process them in situ, what are you going to do with them? dump them in that third country, fly them back to Afghanistan? …

Expat
Expat
2 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

Quite its ashame the opposition never put up a credible candidate that we could vote for last election.

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago
Reply to  Expat

Can’t disagree with you there.

James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  Expat

And they still dont have one.

Magenta
Magenta
2 years ago
Reply to  Frank62

I’m going to assume the processing at the Barron Hotel was to determine who was allowed to get aboard planes. Are you suggesting that a Gov. (USA,UK, France, Australia etc.) should have flown out anybody who asked to fly out, then process them in another country to find out if they were actually eligible for evacuation.

What do you do with the thousands of people who are subsequently found not to be eligible.

What about the thousands left behind who missed a their “rightful”place on a plane due to the thousands who were not.

Have you thought this through?

Challenger
Challenger
2 years ago

Can’t really have an embassy account without an embassy…..

DRS
DRS
2 years ago
Reply to  Challenger

Suspect it is also a security risk to keep it open (for the people subscribing to it in Afghan). Now risk v reward equation on keeping it open has changed. Plus who is in charge of updating it – no embassy.

Hunter
Hunter
2 years ago

Well it’s not really surprising is it??

Aethelstanthecurious
Aethelstanthecurious
2 years ago

The sheepish end to the Afghanistan tragedy held no populist votes so it didn’t appear in the original narrative. Biden though, has delivered a wake up call to America’s allies who, for better or worse, must learn to look after themselves.

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago

Are the Germans really listening?

OldSchool
OldSchool
2 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

Oh. I don’t know. The Germans seemed very reliable in A-stsn. To avoid any real fighting that is.

James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

The Germans dont do listening, only giving orders for others to follow.

Aethelstanthecurious
Aethelstanthecurious
2 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

Good point, I think these events have also brought out the fallacy of EU foreign policy, which up to now has seen Macron make loads of noise (on everything) and the EU do nothing much But my points are mere commentary except to say we really do need to learn to look after ourselves and bind more with the Canucks and Anna s.

Aethelstanthecurious
Aethelstanthecurious
2 years ago

Anzacs !

Scott Watson
Scott Watson
2 years ago

Fall of Saigon all over again.

George
George
2 years ago

Hi folks hope all is well.
As a side related issue. Main stream media are saying that the US have left behind Black Hawk choppers in Afghanistan?
If this is true how could this happen. In the event of having to evacuate and retreat in a rush, surely the craft and equipment would be destroyed and rendered useless to your enemies. I thought this was standard practice by a professional military.
Do we know how accurate the information is?
Best regards,
George

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago
Reply to  George

Were they not gifted to the Afghans?

Andy B
Andy B
2 years ago
Reply to  George

They’ve been left a massive amount of serviceable equipment, however most of if will become unserviceable in a very short space of time. They have neither the means or the know how to keep stuff in the air or on the ground. Doesn’t make for a good picture when you see Taliban sporting US supplied weaponry though does it.

Paul T
Paul T
2 years ago
Reply to  Andy B

It wouldn’t surprise me if anything Technical like Helicopters etc find their way into Pakistan, they have the skills and experience to keep them going for a while yet Was it not the case that many a supply Convoy routed through Pakistan ended up getting raided or ambushed, and lots of equipment found its way into Local Markets and Bazaars to be sold off, and also there are many backstreet Workshops that can pretty much make anything to order, especially where Armaments are concerned – they might find themselves looking for new employment with all the booty left behind coming… Read more »

James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul T

Totally agree, I doubt anyone in the Taliban has the know how to fly a black hawk.

Maybes a few bits will find a way to Russia and China to be taken apart and studied who knows.

Without maintenance crews other than a parade flight (if they can find a pilot) it will all be staying grounded.

Paul T
Paul T
2 years ago
Reply to  James

They can add them to their Z20’s, I’m sure no one will notice 👍

Steve R
Steve R
2 years ago
Reply to  George

They’d have been the ones gifted to the Afghan National Army. None of the bells and whistles the US Army ones currently have.

Only thing they’d have in common would be the basic airframe and maybe engines.

Rob
Rob
2 years ago

Folks you can’t defend the indefensible. No military commander would have chosen to depart like this. The last Battalion to leave will literally have to fire (hopefully not fire but be in a position to do so) & maneuver to the aircraft and then literally do a runner. The fault for all this is obviously with the Americans but the British Gov can’t avoid some of the blame. We should have got these people out straight away after the Doha agreement, certainly when the US left Bagram and definitely once the collapse began and the UK Generals sent an open… Read more »

James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  Rob

I dont think they waited till Kabul was occupied, planning will have been in place before this but I agree it should have been implemented sooner.

We all saw the US security data saying Kabul would take 30 days to be occupied which was blatantly incorrect but if they worked on the visible intelligence at the time they thought they had more time than they did. But who knows what was going on behind the scenes.

At least Turkey for whatever reason have decided to stay behind and defend the airport giving some cover for the last people out.

Caspian237
Caspian237
2 years ago

If civilian and non military personnel had been evacuated well in advance of troops being withdrawn, as trump claims he would have done, you can almost guarantee that media commentators would now be blaming the collapse of the Afghan forces on premature abandonment of the country by the US and its allies. It would have been seen as a show of no confidence in them and a supposed blow to their morale. Of course, in hindsight, that would have been the best option

dave12
dave12
2 years ago

It was Trumps deal with the taliban that started it , granted US military said that 2000 stationed troops would prevent taliban take over, but cant stay there for ever unless you want to start a war with pakistan , that was , is the main problem.

Rob
Rob
2 years ago
Reply to  dave12

No it was Bush’s decision to do Iraq & Afghanistan at the same time that started it. Such a stupid decision; We had Iraq under control and we could have sorted Afghan with massive surge in 2002. So sad.

grizzler
grizzler
2 years ago
Reply to  dave12

So you think the US were scared of a war with Pakistian – really?..Pakistan have been a destabalising influence in the area for a long long time – their intelligence services have been playing a game for even longer . The Chinese are now exerting an influence in Pakistan.

dave12
dave12
2 years ago
Reply to  grizzler

I agree with you ,but as I said you need to deal with Pakistan intel service ,that was not done ,and dont forget its was NATO forces not just the US in Afghanistan.

Meirion x
Meirion x
2 years ago
Reply to  dave12

The Pakistan problem should have been sorted in 2003 instead of Iraq.

James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  grizzler

China will be the main winner (profiteer) in all of this.

Johan
Johan
2 years ago

Here is a curveball, Why didn’t Nato partners and i will discount the 3 members who actually lost the most servicemen in STAN. USA/UK/CANADA. why didn’t the other Nato partners offer to take up some of the Load? Biden Blames Trump and what he signed up for, BUT Biden counter-signed other Trump policies. Biden has proven to be an incompetent old fool, and leaving $82b worth of arms and kit behind will fund STAN for decades. was warned about removing aircover and ignored it. But the failure of Nato not doing its share of the work, just highlights that we… Read more »

simon
simon
2 years ago
Reply to  Johan

A quick look on Wiki shows nearly ever country in NATO lost personal in Afghanistan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition_casualties_in_Afghanistan

And in reality it was an out of NATO area operation