Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 19
19
The chaos and failures of the withdrawal and evacuation make it even more important—and morally...
Conclusion
The chaos and failures of the withdrawal and evacuation make it even more important—and morally imperative—that the UK commits to a serious strategy leading to future engagement with Afghanistan, in cooperation with allies and regional states. The withdrawal and the Taliban takeover have serious implications for British security and wider interests. It has heightened the terror threat and lessened our ability to identify and tackle these issues. In particular, remote counterterrorism operations run the risk of further damaging our interests in the country by causing civilian casualties. Along with traditional partners, such as the EU, the UK shares significant interests with countries in the region, such as China, in terms of regional stability, security, and avoiding state collapse. The UK should combine diplomacy, aid and trade in a concerted and strategic approach to future policy towards Afghanistan. This will mean patient committed engagement with the regime and with its domestic critics; investment in a substantial package of humanitarian and—eventually—development aid for the country; targeted support to rebuild the economy; and coordinated messaging towards the regime with both partner and antagonist governments. (Paragraph 60) Missing in action: UK leadership and the withdrawal from Afghanistan 59
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government’s commitment to Afghanistan and its people is enduring. The UK’s strategy for this period will be grounded in its enduring national interests in Afghanistan: preventing the return of terrorist threats to the UK from Afghan soil; protecting the UK from drugs, illegal migration, and other serious and organised crime; preventing humanitarian suffering; and preserving regional stability. The Government agrees that it should combine diplomacy, aid, and trade in its strategy for Afghanistan. It will continue to engage international partners, including Afghanistan’s neighbours with whom the UK has a shared interest in preventing regional instability and in countering terrorism and other threats. The UK will work closely with the UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan and the new Special Representative of the Secretary General when appointed. The Government agrees on the importance of pursuing a strategy of patient and pragmatic engagement with the Taliban, recognising that progress is likely to be slow, and that the immediate period ahead is likely to see further negative trends within Afghanistan. The Government will continue to press the Taliban to uphold the commitments they have made to their own people, to protect human rights for all, and to promote greater inclusivity of Afghanistan’s many ethnic and religious groups. The Government recognises that this will remain challenging, often unrewarding work. The Government agrees with the Committee that the international community should not repeat the mistakes of the past by disengaging from Afghanistan altogether, allowing national security threats to grow, and the suffering of the Afghan people to deepen. The Government thanks the Committee for the work which has gone into this Inquiry, and for its ongoing commitment to the people of Afghanistan.