LONDON: The majority of British troops have been withdrawn from Afghanistan, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday, ending its official role in a two-decades-long conflict amid fears the departure of foreign soldiers could lead to a chaotic civil war.
"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. However, Johnson 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, as per reports. Over the last two decades, 150,000 members of Britain's armed forces served in Afghanistan, 457 of whom died, according to Johnson.
British forces were first deployed to Afghanistan in 2001 following the 9/11 attacks on the United States and played a major role in combat operations until 2014. A total of 457 British soldiers were killed in the country. 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 about USD138 million of development assistance this year, and 58 million pounds for the Afghan national security and defence forces.
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