British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Thursday the withdrawal of all British troops from Afghanistan, signalling the end of Britain’s military mission in a two-decade-long conflict.
“All British troops assigned to NATO’s mission in Afghanistan are now returning home,” Johnson told the House of Commons, the lower house of the British parliament.
The Prime Minister would not disclose the exact timetable of the departure for security reasons, but added that most of the 750 remaining British troops had already left, the Xinhua news agency reported.
Over the last two decades, 150,000 members of Britain’s armed forces served in Afghanistan, 457 of whom died, according to Johnson.
Britain’s move follows the announcement by US President Joe Biden in April that all US troops would leave Afghanistan before September 11, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that drew the United States into its longest war.
Johnson said that Britain will use “every diplomatic and humanitarian lever” to support Afghanistan’s development and stability, including over 100 million pounds (about $138 million) of development assistance this year, and 58 million pounds for the Afghan national security and defense forces.
Must Read
- Chaos in Afghanistan directly related to disorderly…
- Scholz, Biden say there is no significant withdrawal of…
- Boris Johnson says UK in better position than last year as…
- Boris Johnson's office apologizes to Queen Elizabeth for…
- Boris Johnson appoints new team to help deliver on people's…
- UK will work to ensure sovereignty, independence of Ukraine:…
- De-SWIFTing Russian banks first step in isolating Russia…
- British PM Boris Johnson survives no-confidence vote, calls…
- Boris Johnson suggests talk with Russia to stabilize…
- Boris Johnson fires shot against UK PM Rishi Sunak's Brexit…