Speaking at an extraordinary session of British Parliament to review present situation in Afghanistan, Johnson announced that as G7 President, the UK will work alongside the international community to agree on a single approach on how to deal with the Taliban.

It would be a mistake for any nation to recognize the new government in Kabul prematurely or bilaterally, Johnson stressed.

The Taliban movement, which was never utterly defeated during the 20-year US-led invasion and occupation, started off by regaining ground after foreign forces pull-out in 2020.

The Taliban entered Kabul unopposed of government forces on Sunday.

Opening an emergency debate, the prime minister faced criticism from MPs for the chaotic withdrawal from Kabul, and also said that Britain had prepared for all scenarios. He stated that the UK did not foresee the Taliban takeover, although the speed of it had come as a surprise.

The UK PM said that the ‘hard reality’ was that Western nations had no option but to pull out without ‘US logistics, without US airpower and American might’. He also went on to inform that Britain had, so far, secured the safe return of 306 British nationals and 2,052 Afghan nationals as part of its resettlement programme. He told the House of Commons that 2,000 more Afghan applications were also being completed and ‘many more’ were being processed.

Labor Party Leader Sir Keir Starmer accused the prime minister of staggering complacency and appalling judgment by failing to plan properly for the withdrawal of troops over past 18 months.

Starmer also slammed Foreign Minister Dominic Raab for vacationing in Cyprus as the crisis in Afghanistan worsened.

pgh/Pll/mem / nm