Boris Johnson confirms ‘most’ British military personnel have left Afghanistan ALREADY

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The flag comes down: Boris Johnson confirms ‘most’ British military personnel have left Afghanistan ALREADY as he pledges that the UK will not ‘turn away’ from the country’s plight

By David Wilcock, Whitehall Correspondent For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:


Boris Johnson revealed today that ‘most’ British service personnel have already left Afghanistan after a military presence of 20 years.

In a statement to Parliament he vowed that the withdrawal did not mean that the UK would ‘turn away’ from the country’s precarious position.

He admitted ‘there could never be a perfect moment’ to pull out all troops after a conflict that saw more than 450 service personnel lose their lives.  

But the UK’s hand was forced by the United States’ decision to withdraw its much larger force by September.

Mr Johnson told the Commons that he could not comment on the exact timing of the withdrawal, but added: ‘Most of our personnel have already left’.

He added: ‘I hope that no-one will leap to the false conclusion that the withdrawal of our forces somehow means the end of Britain’s commitment to Afghanistan.

‘We are not about to turn away, nor are we under any illusions about the perils of today’s situation and what may lie ahead. 

In a statement to Parliament he vowed that the withdrawal did not mean that the UK would ‘turn away’ from the country’s precarious position.

Soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland marked the drawn down of Operation TORAL last month with a flag lowering ceremony in Kabul (pictured)

Soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland marked the drawn down of Operation TORAL last month with a flag lowering ceremony in Kabul (pictured)

Mr Johnson told the Commons that he could not comment on the exact timing of the withdrawal, but added: 'Most of our personnel have already left'.

Mr Johnson told the Commons that he could not comment on the exact timing of the withdrawal, but added: ‘Most of our personnel have already left’. 

‘We always knew that supporting Afghanistan would be a generational undertaking and we were equally clear that the instruments in our hands would change over time.

‘Now we shall use every diplomatic and humanitarian lever to support Afghanistan’s development and stability.’

Asked by Labour’s Angela Rayner if he believes the threat to the UK from the country had been reduced, he replied;’ ‘yes I do.’

Since 2001, 457 members of the UK Armed Forces have lost their lives in Afghanistan, and more than 150,000 UK personnel have served in the country.