A British military plane lands at RAF Brize Norton in England after flying from Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo: Ministry of Defence
A British military plane lands at RAF Brize Norton in England after flying from Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo: Ministry of Defence
A British military plane lands at RAF Brize Norton in England after flying from Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo: Ministry of Defence
A British military plane lands at RAF Brize Norton in England after flying from Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo: Ministry of Defence

'Heartbreak' for Afghans left behind as UK airlift ends


Tim Stickings
  • English
  • Arabic

The UK’s rescue mission in Kabul reached its end on Saturday with hundreds of people feared to be left behind.

Gen Sir Nick Carter, head of the British Armed Forces, said it was heartbreaking that not everyone could be flown out by the August 31 deadline.

The civilian evacuation operation is ending on Saturday so the military can complete its withdrawal in what Gen Carter said would be a difficult final stretch.

Nearly 15,000 people have been airlifted out since the Taliban took over Kabul, including British citizens and Afghans who worked for Nato forces.

Remaining UK citizens were urged to avoid the airport owing to security fears that culminated in the terrorist attack on Thursday. Processing centres at the Baron Hotel have been closed.

Gen Carter said the chaos in Kabul had contributed to some people being stuck. He estimated the number left behind as being in the “high hundreds”.

“We are forever receiving messages and texts from our Afghan friends that are very distressing. We’re all living this in a very painful way,” he told the BBC’s Today programme.

“It’s gone as well as it could do in the circumstances. But we haven’t been able to bring everybody out, and that has been heartbreaking.”

As the civilian evacuation ends, Britain has begun pulling out its final contingent of troops and diplomatic personnel. Some landed at RAF Brize Norton in the early hours of Saturday.

Clearance was given for animal charity founder Paul Farthing to leave with his cats and dogs on a chartered plane, in a case that has caused controversy.

Members of the UK's 16 Air Assault Brigade disembark a flight at the UK's RAF Brize Norton. AFP
Members of the UK's 16 Air Assault Brigade disembark a flight at the UK's RAF Brize Norton. AFP

The military evacuation operation is taking place in the shadow of suicide bombings that killed dozens of people on Thursday, including British citizens.

Gen Carter said US troops would be “very challenged” in the coming days as the terrorist threat remained and Afghans continued to crowd the airport.

“The next three or four days are going to be really difficult on the ground and I think people need to reflect on that a bit,” he said.

Britain hopes to persuade the Taliban to allow people to leave by commercial means after August 31.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson hopes to use frozen Afghan funds and the prospect of international co-operation as leverage over the Taliban regime.

He spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday and emphasised "any recognition and engagement with the Taliban must be conditional on them allowing safe passage for those who want to leave the country and respecting human rights", his office said.

The two leaders agreed on the need to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan in the coming weeks, Downing Street said.

Resettlement offer stays open

Sir Laurie Bristow, the UK ambassador to Afghanistan, said on Saturday that the UK would do everything it could to help people left behind.

"It's time to close this phase of the operation now. But we haven't forgotten the people who still need to leave," he said. "Nor have we forgotten the brave, decent people of Afghanistan."

In a letter to MPs, ministers offered reassurances that the resettlement initiative for locally employed Afghan staff does not expire on August 31.

Another 5,000 people will be taken in over the next year under a separate scheme for Afghans at risk, such as women and girls.

MPs have described a huge workload as they try to help constituents with relatives in Afghanistan. The UK’s home, foreign and defence secretaries said in the letter that MPs should keep directing people to government helplines.

“We know that every single one of you will have been contacted about heart-breaking stories of those left behind in unimaginable circumstances,” they said.

“We are clear that the Taliban must ensure safe passage for these people out of Afghanistan and any engagement with them will emphasise this first and foremost.”

Where to submit a sample

Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain

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Director: Sam Raimi

 

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams

 

Rating: 3/5

 
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Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now

There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:

1. Rising US interest rates

The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.

Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”

At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.

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High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.” 

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Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”

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Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.

Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”

The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”

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Key recommendations
  • Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
  • Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
  • Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
  • More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
Updated: August 28, 2021, 4:49 PM