The United Kingdom announced recently that it is preparing to attack the ISIS-K (Islamic State – Khorasan) network in the country of Afghanistan. Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, Chief of the air staff said that the UK might instigate strikes against the ISIS-K. He further added that if the United Kingdom gets an opportunity to contain Afghanistan’s affiliate, it’ll not go back on it. The rise of the Taliban has brought extreme threats to the allies of the UK, he added more. After the withdrawal of the U.S. after a 20 year-long battle, the UK has stepped forward fearlessly to face the threats and fight against ISIS-K.
Report Of The Pentagon
The Pentagon report stated that the UK was examining the logistics for airstrikes. It was taking a note on where the Royal Air Force or the RAF jets would have their base and how they will refuel and identify the targets on the ground. UK needs to play an important role on a global level to defeat Daesh in Global coalition, the coalition that was previously led by the US targeted ISIS in Syria and Iraq, and they conducted airstrikes and moved troops and equipment to a particular.
UK’s Right To Self-Defence
The foreign secretary of the UK, Dominic Raab, stated that the country has the right to exercise ‘self-defense’ when faced with terrorist groups operating from abroad. The UK has realized that it needs to face the reality in the war-torn country. To keep the Taliban in check, all the nations need to follow the technique of ‘moderating influence’, said Dominic Raab.
Massive Attack At The Kabul Airport
The US finally withdrew its joint task force from Afghanistan on August 31, ending the 20-year long battle that was fueled by the September 11 attacks. The western military presence ended with the United Kingdom withdrawing the left behind troops and diplomatic personnel on Saturday – also stopped the airlift evacuation programs in Kabul, leaving thousands of Afghans behind. Many U.S. citizens and vulnerable Afghans were airlifted to safety.
Everyone else seems to have accepted the rule of the Taliban but the US and UK forces aren’t ready to give up yet. A bloody attack was carried out in the airport of Kabul in the last days of evacuation. Over 170 lost their lives in this bloody attack. Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston implied that the RAF could blow ISIS-K targets in Afghanistan.
He said to the Daily Telegraph that ultimately this situation comes down to the fact that they have got to be eligible to play a global role in the global union to defeat Daesh, whether it is striking or whether it’s shifting troops or equipment to a country, at scale or speed. If there was a chance for them to participate, there’s no doubt that they will be ready to fight where violent extremism takes a toll directly or indirectly on the UK and its allies. He also added that Afghanistan is most likely one of the most inaccessible parts of the world, and yet they can operate there.
The Kabul airport attack that happened on 26 August 2021, has led to a blame game, where the sources of the US indicated that the gate that was supposedly attacked was kept open to stimulate the British evacuation.
According to Pentagon reports that have been leaked and collected by Politico, Rear Admiral Peter Vasily, the commander of the US troops in Afghanistan, had wanted to shut down the Abbey Gate but it was kept open to let the UK evacuees into the airport.
The Ministry of Defence said that throughout the entire operation at the airport they have helped closely with the US to guarantee the safe evacuation of thousands of people. The final US service troops left Kabul on a flight sometime before midnight local time on Monday, meeting President Biden’s deadline to withdraw ahead of the deadline. The Taliban declared “full independence” for Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the US troops.
The UN Resolution
The Taliban in Afghanistan are facing pressure for respecting human rights and for providing safe passage to the people who wish to escape its rule which was a rule passed by the UN Security Council through their resolution. This resolution was adopted by the council of Russia and China, abstaining from their vetoes rather than wielding them. The UK believes that this is a step towards a unified international response. However, the resolution also states that it effectively acknowledges that it depends on the Taliban to decide if people are allowed to leave Afghanistan or not. Even though Russia and China did not support the resolution, their decision to not block it by using their vetoes is a relief to the West.
The UK expects and hopes that Moscow and Beijing will be able to have some influence over the newly formed Afghan government regarding issues such as countering terrorism and the trade-in narcotics, prevention of a refugee crisis, and making sure that further economic collapse is diminished.
The Foreign Office Minister James Cleverly said that it would be impossible to estimate and predict how many people are actually eligible to come to the UK and have been left behind after the evacuation process was finished. About 15,000 people were evacuated from Afghanistan, Mr. Cleverly added, but Labor MPs claimed that they were contacted by thousands of people that have been left behind in Afghanistan and they are preparing to rescue them. Mr. Cleverly has acknowledged a few emails of Afghans that are desperate to leave the country and the priority during the evacuation was given to people who could reach Kabul airport before the airlift.