Guards who safeguarded the British Embassy in Afghanistan were among those unable to escape the country in time, it was revealed today.
They were unable to reach evacuation flights despite buses being arranged to collect some of them as they were ‘not given permission to enter’ the airport.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab updated MPs today about the mission to evacuate British nationals and vulnerable Afghans who supported the government.
He spoke to the Foreign Affairs Committee, but did not offer further details on the difficulties the guards faced nor specify how many of them remain in Afghanistan.
The final British evacuation flight from Afghanistan left on Saturday, with those still in the country facing an uncertain future.
Speaking today, Mr Raab confirmed he has ordered a ‘full review’ of the closure of the UK’s embassy in Kabul, amid concerns over the details of UK-linked Afghans falling into the hands of the Taliban.
Asked about the evacuation of the guards, Mr Raab told MPs: ‘We wanted to get some of those embassy guards through but the buses arranged to collect them, to take them to airport, were not given permission to enter.’
On the closure of the embassy, Mr Raab recommended the failure to ruin delicate information was ‘regrettable’ and it showed the ‘pressure on the ground’.
He stated: ‘We had a five-day schedule technique for closure of the embassy and it got advanced due to the fact that of the scenario on the ground.
‘I have nonetheless asked for a full review of what happened to make sure we can learn lessons.’
It follows a previous British Army leader stated the ‘moral’ battle to save his previous Afghan pals will go on amidst the ‘catastrophic’ after-effects of the United States and UK withdrawal.
Major Ian Simpson MBE thinks the UK must have done even more to secure Afghans who risked their lives to help worldwide forces.
Between 800 and 1,100 Afghans eligible for repatriation to the UK have actually been left, according to Government figures, although Labour has stated it knows 5,000 cases.
The Times recently stated it discovered documents determining 7 Afghans while Taliban fighters patrolled the embassy.
Mr Raab stated: ‘All of those whose names The Times passed to us and who worked for us are now in the UK.’
An MoD representative stated formerly: ‘During Operation Pitting we worked relentlessly to securely leave as lots of people out of Afghanistan as possible, airlifting more than 15,000 individuals from Kabul consisting of countless ARAP [Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme] candidates and their dependents.
‘We will continue to do all we can to support those who have supported us, and our commitment to those who are eligible for relocation is not time-limited and will endure. The ARAP scheme remains open to applications and we will continue to support those who are eligible.’
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