Rory Stewart: UK's Afghanistan withdrawal 'biggest betrayal since WWII'

16 August 2021, 19:37

Afghan withdrawal a 'betrayal' by US and UK

By Seán Hickey

A 'reckless' withdrawal by NATO allies led to the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, the former cabinet minister claims.

The Taliban took control of the Afghan capital Kabul over the weekend which effectively gave them power in the Middle Eastern nation, a little over a fortnight since NATO troops began a withdrawal after 20 years on the ground.

Former Tory MP Rory Stewart spoke to Eddie Mair in the wake of the chaos. "Biden and to some extent Boris Johnson's government blinded themselves and were far too optimistic," he claimed.

Mr Stewart said that NATO "didn't realise that our support, although small, was like a small keystone in an arch – when it's taken away the whole thing fell down."

Eddie spoke of how many commentators have described the Taliban resurgence as a disaster and wondered how Mr Stewart saw it.

Human rights advocate criticises west's withdrawal in Afghanistan

"This is the biggest betrayal of British foreign policy since the Second World War. This is just unforgiveable and totally extraordinary," he admitted.

The former International Development Secretary reiterated that he is "extremely angry at Biden because in the end he's followed a policy of Trump's.

This is Trump's isolationism, this is a reckless withdrawal and he seem to have put no thought into a proper transition."

He went on to argue that "Britain and other NATO partners could have taken up that slack" but chose to follow the US in withdrawing.

"It's very very sad for Britain because it suggests that we've lost the capacity to really think independently of the US," he concluded.