Afghanistan: 'Bury differences' with Taliban to tackle crisis, urges ex-Army chief

Britain should “bury its differences” with the Taliban to help tackle the deepening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, a former Army chief has said.

People are dying in the country and action is needed urgently, Lord Dannatt told Parliament.

The Taliban takeover, which followed the withdrawal of US troops, led to the shut-off of international aid to the Kabul government and the blocking of billions of pounds in Afghan assets held abroad, worsening an already crumbling economy.

UN officials have warned of a humanitarian crisis, with millions of Afghans plunging deeper into poverty and facing hunger and increasing numbers on the verge of starvation.

Afghanistan has been hit by one of its worst famines in decades, and the economic collapse has meant many people are unable to afford food.

Speaking during a debate in the House of Lords, Lord Dannatt said: “The United States’ unilateral decision started by President Trump and continued by President Biden, which led to the precipitate withdrawal of international forces in the summer, has led directly to the poverty and hunger that 23 million people in Afghanistan are suffering at the present moment.”

Referring to the UK’s 20-year involvement in the country, he said: “We were actually there to give those people the chance of a better life and at a stroke that better life was taken away.

“We don’t like the Taliban regime, but is that a good enough reason to stand on those issues and not give the humanitarian support that the Afghan people need?

“We should not leave it to the charitable sector. Governments should make a decision that the time has come to bury our differences with the Taliban, support the people who we tried to help for the last 20 years and sort out the other issues in slow time.

“Wringing our hands and saying it’s awful is not good enough. The time for action is now.

“Winter is coming. People are hungry, people are dying, babies can’t be fed.

“We have got to do more, we have got to do it soon.”