Boris Johnson rules out military solution as Taliban overrun Afghanistan and al-Qaeda plot resurgence

BORIS Johnson ruled out putting British boots back on the ground in Afghanistan as he extended a diplomatic olive branch to the Taliban.

The PM ruled out a "military or combat solution" to the Islamists' surge but said the UK would look to “exert what pressure we can” with whoever is in government in Kabul.

Troops board a flight to Afghanistan after Boris Johnson gives the military the go aheadCredit: PA The prime minister has ruled out a 'combat solution'Credit: Andrew Parsons / No10 Downing Street

He said he would work with allies to stop Afghanistan becoming a “breeding ground for terror.” 

Yesterday Boris confirmed that the “vast bulk” of embassy and diplomatic staff would be extrapolated from the country which is being overrun by militants.

And he said he was redoubling efforts to bring over Afghan workers who served alongside the British Army and are now being singled out by the extremists.

Speaking from Downing Street he said: “We've got to be realistic about the abilities of the UK or any power to impose a military solution or a combat solution in Afghanistan.

“What we certainly can do is work with all our partners in the region and around the world who share an interest with us in preventing Afghanistan from once again becoming a breeding ground for terror.

"The situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated. As I've said in the House of Commons, we've seen this coming for some time.

'BREEDING GROUND FOR TERROR'

"In the course of the next few days, we will see the vast bulk of UK embassy officials come back and we will step up our efforts to bring back those Afghans who have helped us, helped the UK, and international forces throughout the last 20 years."

Handing an olive brand for potential future diplomacy he added: “We are going to use our diplomatic, our political, our overseas development aid budget leverage to make sure that we exert what pressure we can.” 

The PM said millions of girls had been educated in the country since Britain’s 20 year intervention in the war-torn state.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace warned Al Qaeda terrorists would “probably come back” as rampaging Taliban militants seized the iconic city of Kandahar.

He vowed to use force if the terrorists threatened national security.

“Failed states are breeding grounds for those type of people," he said.

“I will always deploy force or disruptive capabilities…to protect our national security and our interests."

On Thursday he ordered 600 troops from 16 Air Assault Brigade to evacuate the British Embassy and up to 4,000 British nationals, contractors and staff in Kabul.

It came as the Taliban conquered the southern city Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand, leaving just two major towns beyond Kabul still under government control.

WAR-TORN

Tobias Ellwood, chair of the Defence Select Committee said the situation was a "failure".

He said: "This is the West's biggest own goal this century so far. It's an absolute mess what we've left here."

In Herat, in the west, the insurgents arrested the legendary warlord Ismail Khan, 75, who had led the city’s doomed resistance.

Two men accused of looting had their faces smeared with boot polish and they were led through the streets on a rope by the militants â€" but they were spared the public amputations favoured by the Taliban when they were in power.

The eastern city of Jalalabad, a gateway to Pakistan, and the northern city of Marar-i-Sharif are the only major cities outside Kabul still under government control.

On Thursday they captured Ghazni, just 90 miles from the capital.

Former Foreign and Defence Secretary Philip Hammond called the sudden withdrawal a "gross misjudgement by the US president".

America is sending 3,000 troops to evacuate its citizens and staff.

Desperate President Ghani was under growing pressure to resign after the Taliban scoffed at a last-ditch offer to share power with his government.

Only a skeleton staff of diplomats led by the ambassador Sir Laurie Bristow will remain in temporary embassy on the Kabul airport military compound.

America is sending 3,000 troops to evacuate its citizens and staffCredit: Avalon.red The exodus is growing by the day as the Taliban campaign to regain power gains momentum Boris Johnson speaks after emergency Cobra meeting on Afghanistan

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