More than 7,000 evacuated from Afghanistan by UK in two week military mission

The UK has evacuated more than 7,000 people from Afghanistan as part of the rescue mission begun less than two weeks ago.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Operation Pitting, the military evacuation that began on Friday August 13 has so far extracted 7,109 people out of Kabul.

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At a glance: 5 key points

• The figure includes embassy staff, British nationals, those eligible under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) programme and a number of nationals from partner nations
• It said Operation Pitting has seen more than 4,226 Afghan individuals and their families evacuated
• More than 1,000 UK Armed Forces personnel have been deployed in Kabul
• The MoD said the evacuation process will run as long as the security situation allows in coordination with the US but president Biden doesn’t want US troops to stay beyond August 31
• No firm date has yet been set for the end of evacuation flights, the MoD added

What’s been said

Speaking to reporters in Fort George, near Inverness, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “The Prime Minister is, obviously at the G7, going to try and raise the prospect of seeing if the United States will extend.

“It’s really important for people to understand the United States have over 6,000 people in Kabul airport and when they withdraw that will take away the framework… and we will have to go as well.

“I don’t think there is any likelihood of staying on after the United States. If their timetable extends even by a day or two that will give us a day or two more to evacuate people.

“Because we are really down to hours now, not weeks, and we have to make sure we exploit every minute to get people out.”

Background

The Mod said the Armed Forces have continued to fly in and distribute aid to support UK and Afghan nationals going through the evacuation process, including providing water, baby wipes and pre-made baby milk, sanitary packs, blankets and colouring books.

On Monday morning the armed forces minister, James Heappey, said approximately 1,800 UK nationals and more than 2,200 Afghans who helped British forces are the “focus” of the government’s evacuation efforts from Afghanistan.

G7 leaders are due to meet virtually on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Afghanistan as the Taliban occupies the country.

Armed forces minister, James Heappey, warned the UK will not be able to evacuate everyone it hopes to.

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