UK in talks with Taliban to bring back its nationals

People wave Taliban flags and shout slogans during a rally in Chaman, a town at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, on August 31. Pics/AFP

The UK government is in discussions with the Taliban to secure safe passage for remaining British nationals and eligible Afghan evacuees and has launched ‘Operation Warm Welcome' for refugees from Afghanistan, Downing Street said on Wednesday.

The talks, involving UK officials and "senior" Taliban members, are said to be taking place in Doha, Qatar, and additionally, Britain is also sending 15 "crisis response specialists" to neighbouring Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to assist British diplomats in their work to allow people to reach the UK via third countries. The focus is on helping UK nationals, interpreters and other Afghans who were employed by the UK.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (centre) arrives at Downing Street in London on Wednesday

"The Prime Minister's special representative for Afghan transition, Simon Gass, has travelled to Doha and is meeting with senior Taliban representatives to underline the importance of safe passage out of Afghanistan for British nationals, and those Afghans who have worked with us over the past 20 years," a Downing Street spokesperson said. The move follows the exit of NATO troops from the region to meet the August 31 deadline, but the Taliban have agreed to allow further evacuations.

Meanwhile, Downing Street said that a significant cross-government effort is underway as ‘Operation Warm Welcome', to ensure Afghans arriving in the UK receive the vital support they need to rebuild their lives, find work, pursue education and integrate into their local communities. Under the plan, those coming to the UK through resettlement routes would receive immediate indefinite leave to remain.

‘An outsider's attempt to impose democracy'

Pope Francis has criticised the West's recent involvement in Afghanistan as an outsider's attempt to impose democracy, although he's done so by citing Russia's Vladimir Putin while thinking he was quoting Germany's Angela Merkel.

‘Negotiations related to govt formation over'

The Taliban leaders have said the negotiations over the future set-up of government in Kabul have ended and will announce the new government soon. Officials in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan said that negotiations led by Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada - the supreme leader of IEA - ended on Monday, August 30, Khaama News reported. Mullah Hibatullah has recently come to the Afghan capital from Kandahar province where he held talks with tribal elders.

‘I believe this is the right decision, wise decision for america'

Joe Biden, US president
‘My fellow Americans, the war in Afghanistan is now over. I give you my word: With all of my heart, I believe this is the right decision, a wise decision, and the best decision for America'

Vladimir Putin, Russian president
‘The result is sheer tragedies, sheer losses, both for those who were doing that - the US - and more so for the people who live in Afghanistan. A zero result, if not negative'

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar's foreign minister
‘If we are starting to put conditions and stopping this engagement, we are going to leave a vacuum, and the question is, who is going to fill this vacuum?'

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