Colin Brazier: Barring miracles, the hard men of Afghanistan can now recommence their grand project – to enslave and behead as they please

This weekend the last British troops will leave Afghanistan, so ending a bloody instalment in our martial story that ran for 20 years.

It’s right we should remember and honour the 456 brave men and women who died there, and the thousands more who suffered life changing injuries.It also behoves us to remember the good we did. The girls who can now read and write because British and coalition troops forced the medievalists of the Taliban, literally, back into their caves.

And for all the horrors of war, Afghanistan and its sister-conflict Iraq, left an indelible imprint on a generation. Altogether about a quarter of a million British personnel cycled through bases from Basra to Bastion. They move among us still. Mostly in civilian jobs now, but with the steel in their souls that only exposure to bullets and bombs can forge.

It may now be true that many young men and women would rather be on Love Island than on active service, but that cohort, which served in Afghan and Iraq were and are a remarkable breed, veterans of an Army smaller than at any time since the Napoleonic wars, but better trained – not least because of the conflict – than at any time since 1945.

As a journalist, I went to Afghanistan three times and like everyone was struck by the country’s biblical beauty, and occasional savagery. Many British personnel made good friends among the Afghan forces, and it was welcome news a month ago when our government made more spaces available here for translators who helped us there.

But, as the former head of the British Army General Richard Dannatt, wrote in today’s Telegraph, it’s the Taliban who have won this Afghan war. Lord Dannatt’s words are worth repeating. He said: “Ultimately, Taliban force of arms has prevailed, and the people of that country have been denied the chance to choose a better way of life. Tragically, a descent into the chaos of civil war seems highly likely.” It feels uncomfortably like 1989, when the Soviets left and chaos descended on Afghanistan.

The Taliban emerged from that anarchy and are now said to be making sweeping gains across rural districts, declaring victory wherever they go.No major cities have fallen to them yet, but confidence in the Afghan army’s ability – and willingness – to resist is not high.Was it always going to end this way? Were the Taliban always going to win a battle of patience, waiting for the moment when Western democracies grew bored? Not necessarily. But once the White House decided the game was up, that the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks conceived in Afghanistan, was upon us – then no other Western power could stay. Most of our troops left Afghan in 2014, with some fanfare.

Our withdrawal this week is much more low key and has happened more rapidly than some people expected. We will retain some Special Forces and troops to guard our Embassy, assuming we keep one there. But, as you and I set about our weekend, mowing the lawn, going to the pub again, seeing friends, maybe we should all spare a thought for the Britons who died building democracy in Afghanistan. And a prayer too maybe for the millions of Afghan girls whose future is dimming tonight. Whose hopes for an education are fading, even as they are plunged back into the literal and metaphorical darkness of the obligatory burqa.

Barring miracles, and after a 20 year interregnum, the hard men of Afghanistan can now recommence their grand project – to enslave and behead as they please.That’s tonight’s Viewpoint.