Afghanistan: Repatriation

(asked on 15th October 2021) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department's press release, UK officials travel to Afghanistan, published on 5 October 2021, what further discussions officials in her Department have had with representatives of the authorities in Afghanistan since 5 October 2021 on the safe passage from Afghanistan of (a) British nationals and (b) people at risk in that country to (i) the UK and (ii) third countries; and what further meetings officials in her Department plan to have with those representatives.


Answered by
James Cleverly Portrait
James Cleverly
Home Secretary
This question was answered on 25th October 2021

On 5 October, Sir Simon Gass (the Prime Minister's Special Representative for the Afghan Transition) and Dr Martin Longden (Chargé d'Affaires of the UK Mission to Afghanistan in Doha) visited Kabul where they met senior members of the Taliban. Further, on 12 October a senior-level Taliban delegation met with Dr Longden and other international partners in Doha. During these conversations the UK underlined the importance of safe passage to the UK for British Nationals and eligible Afghans, as well as the UK's key interests on counterterrorism, humanitarian issues, and human rights (including girls' education). The UK remains committed to a pragmatic and exploratory dialogue with the Taliban, and will continue to engage the authorities in Kabul, and their representatives in Doha, in support of the Afghan people, including on freedom of movement. We have no immediate plans to visit Kabul at present.

Reticulating Splines