Category: Foreign Affairs

Lisa Nandy – 2021 Letter to Dominic Raab over Unread Emails at Foreign Office

The letter sent by Lisa Nandy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, to Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, on 29 August 2021.

Dear Foreign Secretary,

Now that the airbridge has closed and the UK military drawdown is complete I am writing to ask for your support with the safe evacuation of the British nationals and Afghans who have been left behind. It was welcome to hear the Prime Minister commit to move heaven and earth to help those who are currently in hiding or trying to reach the border but I am increasingly concerned that, even now, few practical measures have been put in place to achieve this.

The scale and complexity of the operation

I understand the Government is working on the assumption that there are 800-1,100 people who will need assistance. Based on our caseload, this is likely to be a significant underestimate. My office is currently tracking cases related to 5,000 people from Labour MPs alone, including British nationals, high profile public figures, people with serious disabilities and children separated from their families – which may give a sense of the complexity of evacuation. I was also extremely concerned to read in today’s Observer that many of the emails MPs have sent to the crisis centre in recent weeks haven’t been opened. Could I ask that those are now dealt with urgently in order to get a sense of the scale of this operation? I would strongly suggest that you plan for a significantly larger number than 1,100.

At the height of the evacuation we were told less than a dozen people in the Foreign Office had been tasked with processing the details of those trying to flee. They were so under-resourced and overstretched that by the final days the only realistic route to assist people was by sending WhatsApp messages to the Defence Secretary or the Minister for Afghanistan. The evacuation efforts cannot have been helped by the range of email addresses and phone numbers that were provided by the Foreign Office, Ministry of Defence and Home Office, most of which either did not work or were not answered. Can you work with colleagues in Government to establish one cross-departmental unit with adequate resources to take responsibility for this next phase?

Border crossings

Given the recent remarks by Taliban leaders and the practical barriers to continue to operate an airport, I presume you are planning for the majority of people to attempt to leave via border crossings. I was concerned to hear from Pakistani diplomats on Thursday that no agreement has yet been reached to take in UK nationals or people eligible for evacuation to the UK.

They raised concerns about the ability to provide public health checks, including testing and quarantine procedures, for those arriving over the border in large numbers. Could the UK alongside allies provide practical support to Pakistan and other countries in the region to help with this?

The adoption of e-visa systems for entry to Pakistan – as India has done – could reduce pressure at Embassies and reduce the risks of crushes and stampedes.

I am also acutely aware that there are an estimated 3 million Afghan refugees already in Pakistan and it will be difficult to urge the Pakistani authorities to take responsibility for large numbers of new Afghan refugees without broader support from the international community. The country lost development assistance from the UK earlier this year. Could you now explore expanding development assistance to support the significant number of refugees in Pakistan, in particular through the UN and NGOs helping refugees on the ground directly?

I also understand you hope to extend the UK’s capacity to process people who would be eligible under the ARAP scheme in Pakistan. There could be an obvious benefit to increasing UK diplomatic capacity on the Pakistan side of the border, to help identify and process those in need. Could you provide further details on additional capacity you are considering deploying to the country?

Safe passage

We are in touch with a number of people who are in hiding following threats to themselves or their families. Aid workers on the ground have raised with me the shortage of those spaces given that local families fear reprisals if they provide shelter to those who have assisted the UK. I am told they are keen to expand these facilities but are unable to do so because they are funded by your department via the CSSF, and the funds cannot be used for this purpose. Could you look into this urgently to see if flexibility can be applied? I suggested this in my letter a week ago but I am told there has been no movement on this.

Clearly, many individuals will have no prospect of reaching a border without the permission of the Taliban. If the UK isn’t in direct communication with Taliban leaders, could you prioritise speaking to regional partners to see if a civilian corridor, possibly overseen by a neighbouring country, could be arranged?

Could you pass on my thanks to the FCDO staff and diplomats who have worked tirelessly in recent days to try to evacuate as many people as possible. I am only too aware of the agonising decisions they have had to make about who to prioritise. Now with this new crisis looming, I hope we can work together to ensure they have all the support they need.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Lisa Nandy MP

Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

30/08/2021
Dominic Raab – 2021 Statement on 2nd Anniversary of Harry Dunn

The statement made by Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, on 27 August 2021.

My deepest condolences are with Harry Dunn’s family on the second anniversary of Harry’s tragic death. I will continue to support the family in their search for justice.

28/08/2021
Dominic Raab – 2021 Statement on Afghanistan Attack

The statement made by Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, on 27 August 2021.

I was deeply saddened to learn that two British nationals and the child of another British national were killed by yesterday’s terror attack, with two more injured.

These were innocent people and it is a tragedy that as they sought to bring their loved ones to safety in the UK they were murdered by cowardly terrorists.

Yesterday’s despicable attack underlines the dangers facing those in Afghanistan and reinforces why we are doing all we can to get people out. We are offering consular support to their families.

We will not turn our backs on those who look to us in their hour of need, and we will never be cowed by terrorists.

28/08/2021
Keir Starmer – 2021 Statement on Afghanistan

The statement made by Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, on 27 August 2021.

After the despicable acts of violence we witnessed on Thursday, the end of the evacuation from Kabul Airport marks a sad and dark day for many people in Afghanistan.

Amid the chaos, there have been many acts of courage. The Ambassador staying at his post to process every case he could. Paratroopers lifting people from the crush. Afghan soldiers who continue to serve alongside us to the end.

Soldiers and airmen, diplomats and embassy staff, working side by side with many Afghans have struggled tirelessly and bravely under immense pressure to get as many people to safety as possible. Their efforts must be widely recognised and honoured.

It has been a remarkable effort in unimaginably difficult circumstances with many acts of courage and heroism.

However, with the withdrawal we face the heart-breaking reality that people have been left behind, including many to whom we owe so much. The British Government must take its fair share of the responsibility and has serious questions to answer about how, despite having 18 months to prepare, their failure to plan and inability to influence others has contributed to this tragic political failure.

But first, although we no longer have a military presence in Afghanistan, we cannot and will not walk away from our obligations to the Afghan people. We must urgently help the thousands who we have left behind, some of whom are eligible for relocation under the ARAP scheme. There are MPs all over the UK who have constituents still pleading for their help. The Government must work quickly to deliver a strategy to get those people out and work with the UN and partners to quickly deliver essential aid directly to those in need.

We must then confront the new reality and challenges of Taliban control. Britain and our allies must use every lever we have to try and hold the Taliban to account. Before Parliament returns, the Prime Minister should set out in detail the G7 roadmap he has promised, including a plan to control Afghan financial assets, and a strategy to ensure Afghanistan does not become a haven for terror and a threat to our security once again.

28/08/2021
G7 – 2021 Joint Statement on Afghanistan

The joint statement made by the G7 on 24 August 2021.

Today, 24 August 2021, under the Presidency of the United Kingdom, we the Leaders of the Group of Seven met virtually to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. We were joined by the Secretaries General of the United Nations (UN) and NATO. We reaffirm our steadfast commitment to the people of Afghanistan, and support the UN Security Council statement of 16 August. We express our grave concern about the situation in Afghanistan and call for calm and restraint to ensure the safety and security of vulnerable Afghan and international citizens, and the prevention of a humanitarian crisis. We call for adherence to obligations under international human rights law, including the rights of women, girls, and minority groups, and that international humanitarian law is upheld in all circumstances. We honour the significant sacrifices made by the Afghan people, people of our own countries, and countless others, who have worked toward a more peaceful, just and secure future for Afghanistan.

The Afghan people deserve to live in dignity, peace and security, reflecting the last two decades of their political, economic and social achievements, in particular for women and girls. Afghanistan must never again become a safe haven for terrorism, nor a source of terrorist attacks on others. Working with partners, in particular NATO allies, we will continue to fight terrorism with resolve and solidarity, wherever it is found. Any future Afghan government must adhere to Afghanistan’s international obligations and commitment to protect against terrorism; safeguard the human rights of all Afghans, particularly women, children, and ethnic and religious minorities; uphold the rule of law; allow unhindered and unconditional humanitarian access; and counter human and drug trafficking effectively. We call on all parties in Afghanistan to work in good faith to establish an inclusive and representative government, including with the meaningful participation of women and minority groups.

We affirm our enduring commitment to the people of Afghanistan, including through a renewed humanitarian effort by the international community. To this end we support the UN in coordinating the immediate international humanitarian response in the region, including unfettered humanitarian access in Afghanistan, and will contribute collectively to that response. As part of that, we will cooperate together and with neighbouring and other countries in the region on supporting Afghan refugees and host communities as part of a coordinated long-term regional response. We call on all partners of Afghanistan to support this effort and wider regional stability through multilateral channels.

As part of this, our immediate priority is to ensure the safe evacuation of our citizens and those Afghans who have partnered with us and assisted our efforts over the past twenty years, and to ensure continuing safe passage out of Afghanistan. We will continue to coordinate closely on this, and we expect all parties to continue to facilitate this, and to ensure the safety of humanitarian and medical personnel, and other international service providers. We will cooperate together, and with neighbouring and other countries in the region hosting refugees, on a coordinated approach to safe and legal routes for resettlement.

We will work together, and with our allies and regional countries, through the UN, G20 and more widely, to bring the international community together to address the critical questions facing Afghanistan. As we do this, we will judge the Afghan parties by their actions, not words. In particular, we reaffirm that the Taliban will be held accountable for their actions on preventing terrorism, on human rights in particular those of women, girls and minorities and on pursuing an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan. The legitimacy of any future government depends on the approach it now takes to uphold its international obligations and commitments to ensure a stable Afghanistan.

24/08/2021
Lisa Nandy – 2021 Comments on Boris Johnson’s Talks on Afghanistan

The comments made by Lisa Nandy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, on 24 August 2021.

This is a dark moment for the UK Government and for Afghans. The Prime Minister has failed to persuade President Biden to agree to extension to evacuation efforts and the painful reality is that people will be left behind – that’s appalling and unconscionable. With 18 months to prepare for this, we are left with a desperate scramble, with heroic soldiers and diplomats on the ground trying to move mountains while the clock keeps ticking.

The urgent priority remains the evacuation. The next few hours are vital. There are still so many desperate people on the ground. All possible resource should be placed into getting as many people out safely as possible.

We need to confront the new reality of Taliban control. This is a difficult situation and it is hard to swallow. But it does not mean we can give up on the Afghan people or on the things they and our troops fought so hard to build over two decades. Afghanistan is facing a humanitarian crisis and a refugee crisis. We need to do all we can with regional partners to keep land routes open and work together to ensure people can access food, water and basic essentials and those in danger can flee. We should agree a common approach to the Taliban and seek a UN Security Council resolution to set the parameters of the world’s expectations.

We should use every lever we have, especially economic, to try to protect the gains of the last 20 years, including protecting our security and preventing Afghanistan becoming once again a safe haven for international terrorism.

24/08/2021
Lisa Nandy – 2021 Comments Ahead of G7 Meeting

The comments made by Lisa Nandy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, on 23 August 2021.

This virtual G7 meeting is a make or break test of the Prime Minister’s ability to bring together international partners, rise to the occasion and show leadership.

The UK must step up and demand three crucial outcomes. First, that as many people as possible have safe passage out of Afghanistan by prioritising efforts to extend the air bridge out of Kabul beyond 31st August. Second, global agreement to deal with the unfolding refugee crisis by working with neighbouring countries to keep land borders open. And third, a strategy for supporting those who will be left behind.

The G7 must agree a joint strategy to safeguard our collective security and guarantee Afghanistan does not become a safe haven for terrorist organisations that pose a threat to the UK.

The Prime Minister has had eighteen months to plan for this – the world’s eyes are on tomorrow’s meeting to make the next seven days count.

24/08/2021
John Healey – 2021 Comments on Afghans in Danger

The comments made by John Healey, the Shadow Defence Secretary, on 21 August 2021.

Ministers were utterly unprepared for the US troop withdrawal and Taliban take-over. Labour fears we could see a tragic repeat at Kabul airport, if the US insist on a strict deadline for withdrawal without Britain’s agreement to evacuate safely all the Afghans we’ve pledged to help.

Ministers must show the strength of purpose and leadership that’s been missing in recent months. We know this is difficult and there’s no guarantee of success. Britain must pursue every option to save Afghans in danger and check Taliban actions.

23/08/2021
David Lammy – 2021 Comments on 32% Fall in Prosecutions

The comments made by David Lammy, the Shadow Justice Secretary, on 19 August 2021.

These figures once again show a government failing victims of crime.

Victims of rape, domestic abuse and serious crime are being left to wait years for justice due to a decade of court closures and an ineffective response to the pandemic.

Time and time again Labour called for the Government to implement measures which would allow our courts to continue to function. They failed to act and it’s victims who are suffering.

20/08/2021
Yvette Cooper – 2021 Speech on Afghanistan

The speech made by Yvette Cooper, the Labour MP for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford, in the House of Commons on 18 August 2021.

We have heard many sobering words in this debate already. I pay particular tribute to the words from our colleagues who have themselves served in Afghanistan, to all their colleagues over many years and to all those in our armed forces, particularly those who have lost their lives, including two brave soldiers from Castleford, Rifleman James Backhouse and Bombardier Craig Hopson. I also pay tribute to those who have worked in our aid agencies and for partner organisations to support development and education projects and to try to rebuild a future for Afghanistan, and to all those who have rightly worked so hard and made it possible for families to live in some semblance of security and for girls—children—to be able to go to school for many years.

That is what makes it so disturbing, shameful and distressing to watch the events in Afghanistan right now: people who worked with us and helped us now hiding, their lives at risk; women and girls forced to hide in their homes simply because they are women and girls; hard-line extremists and terrorists back in charge, creating a security risk across the globe; and no evident strategy from the US, the UK and our allies, but what instead looks like just a chaotic retreat. We have a responsibility to respond, so I want to focus particularly on some of the practical things that should and can be done now to address the humanitarian crisis that we face.

First, I turn to those who have put their lives at risk by working with us. I welcome the Afghan relocation and assistance policy, but it is too narrow. It refers to directly employed staff. For the last 20 years, much of the work of the UK Government, including aid work and nation rebuilding work, has been through contracts with UK agencies and organisations. The Taliban do not recognise the complexities of a contracting-out process, so many of those lives are also at risk.

Some organisations have been in touch with their staff and former employees. One has told me that a woman who worked on the UK aid programme for three years and is now in hiding in Kabul has said this weekend:

“only 3 weeks ago one of my neighbours told me that when they come he would tell them who I am and who my family is. A couple of days ago, a strange man told me in the streets, ‘I know where you work and who you are.’

I fear seeing my kids tortured in front of my eyes or having my skin peeled off while I am alive. We remain locked inside, fearful of even looking out of the window—every time the door knocks fear goes through my whole body and I fear they are coming for me.”

Another, who provided secure accommodation for UK embassy staff and British aid workers, has said:

“Taliban fighters arrived at my father’s home this week asking for me by name. I just left my home city three days before and my father told the Taliban I had gone abroad for medical treatment. The fighters still forced their way into the house and searched every room.”

We have obligations to these people.

Emma Hardy

I am sure that my right hon. Friend, along with many other Members across the House, have been contacted by people desperately worried about loved ones in Afghanistan. One of my constituents has contacted me, saying that his pregnant wife is in Afghanistan now. The Taliban have taken out the communication signals, so he is unable to contact her. He did not put in an application for her to come to this country because of the English language requirement on the application form. Surely now is the time to relax that rule temporarily to allow these people to come to our country.

Yvette Cooper

My hon. Friend makes a powerful point. This is the kind of flexibility that the UK Government could adopt right now. We need such measures for those who have families at risk, but we also need urgently to review and broaden the scope of the relocation scheme. The Home Secretary said in interviews this morning that those who have worked for NGOs that delivered UK aid programmes would also be included. I say to the Foreign Secretary that that is not happening on the ground right now; it is not reflected in the guidance that the Government are operating at the moment or in the application process, and people are being turned down as we speak. People have been turned down this weekend, even though they are at risk and have worked on UK-funded programmes. I urge the Government urgently to look at the relocation scheme. People cannot wait for the resettlement scheme to be in place.

Let me say something about that too. I welcome the Government’s commitment to a resettlement scheme. The Prime Minister confirmed to me earlier that the pledge to help 5,000 people this year is in addition to the commitment made in 2019 to resettle 5,000 people a year from across the world, not instead of it. That existing resettlement scheme is not fully reinstated after covid and it urgently needs to be, but the fact that that infrastructure, those systems and that funding is in place should make it possible for us very urgently to put in place an Afghan relocation scheme, and to accelerate and be more ambitious than the announcement that the Home Secretary made this morning. Again, I urge the Government to work urgently with the agencies on the ground, which can identify straightaway the people who are at most at risk, and to recognise the position of those who are currently here, whose applications for asylum may have been turned down before circumstances escalated. Please can those cases be urgently reviewed rather than refused on out-of-date grounds? Finally, I urge the Government to do more to support refugees in the region, because we know more people will flee.

We have a responsibility not to turn our backs. The situation may be bleak and the circumstances difficult, but we have a duty not to disengage.

20/08/2021