The capture of Afghanistan by talibans has gotten the attention of the British government.
Reacting in an interview with Sky News, UK Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, admitted that the UK government did not foresee the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
Raab said that Britain would have to engage with the Taliban in the future in order to hold them to account for their actions.
He further revealed that several nations were “caught off-guard” by the quick and hostile nature of the militant group’s takeover, which has prompted Afghans to flee the country.
He added that British intelligence had been tracking what was happening on the ground in Afghanistan “very carefully” after the United States decided to reduce its troops in the country.
”The truth is, across the world, people were caught by surprise. I haven’t spoken to an international interlocutor, including countries in the region over the last week, who hasn’t been surprised.
“We saw a very swift change in the dynamics, and of course, this has been part and parcel of the withdrawal of Western troops, but it has also been the way and the approach of the Taliban.
”No one saw this coming and we would have taken action if we had,” he said.
Speaking on the possibilities of sitting down with his counterpart in a Taliban Government, the Foreign Secretary said it would not happen “for the foreseeable future” but added there has always been some form of communication between Britain and the militant group.
“We’ve got to try and use every lever working with our partners, working with the UN, working with NATO, to try and secure a more moderating influence, and a better course for the Afghan people in the months and years ahead,” he added.
