UK lawmakers erupted in heated debate Wednesday as Parliament cut short its summer break to address Afghanistan’s rapid collapse under Taliban control. Critics slammed Prime Minister Boris Johnson, calling the UK’s withdrawal strategy ‘incomprehensible.’
The Debate Unfolds
Former PM Theresa May questioned if British intelligence ‘failed to grasp the reality’ on the ground, asking: ‘Did we just follow the U.S. and hope for the best?’ Johnson defended the UK’s 20-year mission, claiming it ‘succeeded’ in dismantling al-Qaeda. But MPs demanded answers on evacuations and refugee support.
Refugee Lifeline
Amid chaos, the UK pledged to accept 20,000 Afghan refugees over five years—5,000 in 2021 alone—prioritizing women, children, and those who aided British forces. Yet critics argue the plan lacks urgency, as evacuation flights remain bottlenecked.
Afghan Diaspora’s Anxiety
For Afghans in the UK, the crisis hits close to home. Zemar Sakha, a former army officer who fled in the 1980s, called the Taliban takeover ‘unimaginable,’ pleading: ‘The West can’t abandon us now.’ Londoner Hussein Amiri shared his family’s fears: ‘Kabul’s streets are silent. Everyone’s hiding.’
As global leaders scramble, one truth echoes: Afghanistan’s people remain caught in a cycle of conflict—and the world is watching.
