LONDON: Most British troops were pulled out of Afghanistan, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday, ending his official role in a two-decade conflict in the midst of fears of the departure of the chaotic civil war.
British forces were first deployed to Afghanistan in 2001 after 9/11 attacks in the United States and played a major role in combat operations until 2014.
A total of 457 British soldiers were killed in the country.
“All British troops assigned to the NATO mission in Afghanistan are now returning home,” Johnson said in a statement to Parliament.
“For a clear reason, I will not reveal our departure schedule, even though I can notify the house (parliament) that most of our personnel have gone.” Violence has raged across Afghanistan within a few weeks since President Joe Biden announces troops will be attractive without conditions on September 11.
The United States last week the Bagram base, the old staging land for US military operations in the country, which ended the country’s longest war effectively.
The Pentagon said the withdrawal of US troops was 90% complete.
Johnson described the change to the presence of Britain in Afghanistan, said he did not underestimate the challenges faced by the state and the government would continue to provide development assistance.
“I hope no one will jump to the false conclusion that the withdrawal of our troops somehow means the end of the British commitment to Afghanistan, we will not turn away, also we are also not under the illusion of the dangers of the situation today and what might lie down,” said Johnson to Parliament.