To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations she has made to her counterparts in countries neighbouring Afghanistan to support the continued evacuation of eligible at-risk Afghans from Afghanistan.
Answered on
5 January 2022
The UK Government continues to push the Taliban to allow free passage out of the country for foreign passport holders and eligible Afghans who wish to leave. Since the end of the military evacuation, we have facilitated the departure of British nationals and eligible family members on flights organised by the Qatari Government, and their onward journeys to the UK. We have also helped British nationals and eligible Afghans when they have crossed into third countries, from where our diplomatic missions have been able to support their onward travel to the UK. We will continue to work to take advantage of all opportunities to help those eligible to come to the UK to leave Afghanistan. The Foreign Secretary has discussed Afghanistan with a range of international partners, including on her visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, India and Indonesia in October, as well as at meetings of the G20 in October and the G7 in December.