Union Flag lowered in Afghanistan as British troops prepare to depart

Danielle Sheridan
·4 min read
Troops - Owen Humphreys/PA
Troops - Owen Humphreys/PA

The Union Flag has been lowered in Afghanistan, bringing to a close 20 years of British military presence in the country.

The symbolic act means that UK troops have all but withdrawn from the conflict, although defence sources stressed some personnel remained in Kabul. Full withdrawal is expected to be concluded imminently.

Italian and German troops left Afghanistan earlier this week, while it is believed US troops will have fully withdrawn by July 4.

The withdrawal of European nations from the war-torn country comes as the US military commander in Afghanistan warned that the country was on the brink of civil war.

Of the 750 British troops who were in Afghanistan, The Telegraph has been told by defence sources that "most people are out".

The Parachute Regiment search compounds and tunnel complexes in the Mizan district of Zabul in southern Afghanistan - Christopher Pledger
The Parachute Regiment search compounds and tunnel complexes in the Mizan district of Zabul in southern Afghanistan - Christopher Pledger

It is understood that one of the last flights from the country will be carrying The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, back to the UK this week as part of the NATO effort to increase the speed of the withdrawal.

It is understood that the recent ceremonial lowering of the flag took place at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Robert Clark, a defence fellow at the Henry Jackson Society who served in Afghanistan, said by "striking the flag" it marked the end of the war for the UK.

"It’s a hugely symbolic gesture that the mission is all but over and we can expect a full conclusion within a matter of days now,” he said.

Earlier this year, NATO nations announced that they would withdraw, an act of solidarity with US President Joe Biden, who announced it was "time to end the for ever war" as he pledged to withdraw US troops by the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Wing Commander Matt Radnall, Officer Commanding 7 Force Protection Wing, carries a carefully folded Union Flag under his arm and back home to the UK - Ben Birchall
Wing Commander Matt Radnall, Officer Commanding 7 Force Protection Wing, carries a carefully folded Union Flag under his arm and back home to the UK - Ben Birchall

Attacks by Taliban militants increasing

However, there has been increasing violence by Taliban militants across the country as foreign troops work towards completion of the withdrawal.

General Austin S Miller, the US military commander in Afghanistan, said: "A civil war is certainly a path that can be visualized if this continues on the trajectory it's on right now. That should be of concern to the world."

Meanwhile, at a ceremony last week to mark the official end of the Dutch deployment, Ank Bijleveld-Schouten, the Dutch defence minister, underscored the uncertain outlook.

"We see reports of the rise of the Taliban, growing violence, also in areas where we were stationed," she said. "A lot has been achieved but we must be realistic: the results are not irreversible."

Soldiers of 'A' Company, 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh Regiment, on patrol in Showal, Helmand - Julian Simmonds
Soldiers of 'A' Company, 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh Regiment, on patrol in Showal, Helmand - Julian Simmonds

Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the defence select committee, said: "It’s clear withdrawal plans are being expedited in an attempt to get ahead of any potential Taliban attacks.

"This is far from what success was supposed to look like."

Mr Ellwood added that while UK military forces "performed superbly", the mission lacked "any wider geopolitical strategy".

"It is a stern reminder you cannot win the peace by military means alone," he said. "We are far from out of the woods. Afghanistan is now likely to slide towards a full scale civil war."

British military personnel, leaving Camp Bastion, in a British Royal Air Force (RAF) Hercules transport aircraft on their way to Kandahar Airfield - EPA
British military personnel, leaving Camp Bastion, in a British Royal Air Force (RAF) Hercules transport aircraft on their way to Kandahar Airfield - EPA

It is understood that the UK remains committed to supporting the development of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, as they look to become fully self-sufficient, and will endeavour to maintain security for the people of Afghanistan.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said: “As agreed by NATO foreign and defence ministers, the withdrawal of Resolute Support Mission forces, including those of the UK under Operation Toral, will be complete within a few months.

"The UK is involved in ongoing discussions with US and international allies regarding the future of our support to Afghanistan."

Our goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions. In order to improve our community experience, we are temporarily suspending article commenting

Recommended Stories

  • German military completes withdrawal from Afghanistan

    The German military late on Tuesday concluded its withdrawal from Afghanistan after almost two decades, finishing Germany's deadliest military mission since World War 2. "Our last troops left Afghanistan this night after almost 20 years and are on their way home," German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said in a statement. It was in Afghanistan that Germany's military fought the first ground battles since the end of World War 2.

  • U.S. military days away from completing Afghan withdrawal - sources

    The U.S. military appears just days away from completing its withdrawal from Afghanistan, well ahead of the Sept. 11 deadline set by President Joe Biden to end America's longest war, U.S. officials told Reuters on Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity. The withdrawal of troops and equipment from Afghanistan would not include forces that will remain to protect diplomats at the U.S. embassy and potentially assist securing Kabul airport. U.S. officials have told Reuters that embassy presence could be around 650 troops.

  • VW’s Traton Eyes China Push After $3.7 Billion Navistar Deal

    (Bloomberg) -- Volkswagen AG’s Traton SE truck unit will seek to expand in Asia to build a broader global presence, after finalizing the $3.7 billion takeover of U.S. affiliate Navistar International Corp.The company plans to fill remaining gaps in its industrial footprint in markets including China, Traton said Wednesday in a prepared statement for its annual general meeting.“Chinese fleet customers are increasingly looking toward higher-end vehicles,” Traton Chief Executive Officer Matthias Gr

  • After $4.4 billion New York IPO, founders of China's Didi eye global growth

    From working at a foot massage company to setting up China's biggest ride-hailing firm, Will Wei Cheng has navigated several hurdles on the path to taking Didi Global Inc public in a $4.4-billion New York float. As Cheng rose to the upper echelons of Chinese technology entrepreneurs, he faced challenges including tough competition, intense criticism for Didi after rape and murder cases linked to its drivers in 2018, and a COVID-19 induced slowdown at home. While the biggest share sale by a Chinese company in the United States in seven years, which values Didi at $67.5 billion, is a big win for Cheng and co-founder Jean Qing Liu, experts say the challenges are unlikely to go away soon.

  • U.S. forces in Syria attacked after airstrikes on Iran-backed militias

    There were no injuries and the damage was being assessed, Col. Wayne Marotto, the military spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve, said on Twitter.

  • China solar association says Xinjiang forced labour claims unfounded

    Claims that Chinese solar firms are benefiting from forced labour in Xinjiang are unfounded and unfairly stigmatise firms with operations there, the country's solar association said. The United States last week banned imports from five Chinese solar companies accused of using forced labour in Xinjiang including Hoshine Silicon Industry Co and a unit of GCL New Energy Holdings. The White House said forced labour was "an integral part of (China's) systematic abuses against the Uyghur population and other ethnic and religious minority groups" in Xinjiang.

  • Pentagon crafts three-way plan to scrap dozens of older A-10 planes

    The Pentagon on Wednesday said has crafted a complex plan to move forward with the retirement of 42 A-10 "Warthog" combat aircraft, clearing the way for some to be retired from a base in Arizona. Provided there is congressional support for the retirements, the Air Force will retire 35 A-10s from the Davis-Monthan base in Tucson, Arizona, and replace them with several squadrons of A-10s and helicopters from Nevada along with their maintenance and support crews. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, remains an opponent to retiring the A-10s "without a suitable replacement" a spokesman said.

  • Top U.S. diplomat hopes El Salvador, IMF will settle bitcoin row

    A top U.S. diplomat said on Wednesday that she hoped El Salvador and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will complete a financing agreement following the country's dramatic move to make bitcoin a legal tender. El Salvador's Congress has already approved President Nayib Bukele's proposal to embrace the cryptocurrency, making the country the first in the world to adopt bitcoin as legal tender on Sept. 7. The IMF said last week that discussions between its staff and El Salvador were ongoing, reiterating that it remained concerned over the decision.

  • Manhattan grand jury returns criminal indictments against Trump Organization and CFO

    A Manhattan grand jury reportedly filed criminal indictments against both the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg.

  • Russia says 'non-starter' to allow Syria aid through Iraq

    Russia's U.N. envoy Vassily Nebenzia on Wednesday described as a "non-starter" a bid to reopen a second border crossing into Syria from Iraq for aid deliveries and he is only discussing a possible extension of U.N. approval for a crossing from Turkey. The United Nations has appealed to the U.N. Security Council to extend a long-running cross-border aid operation into war-torn Syria, which is due to expire on July 10, warning that a failure to do so would be devastating for millions of people.

  • Bodies of 2 children found at Florida condo collapse site

    Bodies of 2 children found at Florida condo collapse site

  • Biden won't be denied Communion at his DC church

    President Joe Biden won't be denied Communion, a church he frequents in Washington, D.C., announced Tuesday.

  • Biden behind on global vaccine sharing, cites local hurdles

    President Joe Biden came up well short on his goal of delivering 80 million doses of coronavirus vaccine to the rest of the world by the end of June as a host of logistical and regulatory hurdles slowed the pace of U.S. vaccine diplomacy. Although the Biden administration has announced that about 50 countries and entities will receive a share of the excess COVID-19 vaccine doses, the U.S. has shipped fewer than 24 million doses to 10 recipient countries, according to an Associated Press tally. The White House says more will be sent in the coming days and stresses that Biden has done everything in his power to meet the commitment.

  • Supreme Court Decides Not to Lift National Eviction Moratorium

    In a ruling Tuesday, the Supreme Court decided not to remove the national eviction moratorium prohibiting landlords from evicting tenants who failed to keep up with rent payments during the COVID economic downturn.

  • Derek Chauvin close to plea deal with authorities on civil rights charges in George Floyd killing

    Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer sentenced to more than 22 years in jail for the murder of George Floyd, is close to a plea deal with federal prosecutors, according to local reports.

  • CCP 100: Xi warns China will not be 'oppressed' in anniversary speech

    The Chinese leader was speaking at an event marking the centenary of the ruling Communist Party.

  • Putin finally confirms he got the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, as Russia struggles to vaccinate people amid spiking cases and deaths

    In March, the Russian president said he was vaccinated but wouldn't say which shot he got. Russia is currently battling a massive COVID-19 surge.

  • Putin accuses US of working with UK to test Russia's defences in HMS Defender incident

    Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has accused the United States of working with the UK to undermine Russia’s defences. His comments come a week after a British Royal Navy destroyer was harassed by Russian jets and subjected to warning shots after travelling within 12 miles of Crimea’s shoreline, triggering a major confrontation. During his annual marathon call-in show on state television on Wednesday, Mr Putin described the incident as a “provocation” and alleged that a US reconnaissance ai

  • ‘A likely catastrophe.’ As troops pull out of Afghanistan, McConnell’s warnings face test

    “The threats we face from terrorism and tyranny have not been defeated,” the Kentuckian said after meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at the Capitol.

  • History unlikely to forgive Donald Rumsfeld’s Iraq warmongering

    Analysis: reluctance to take heed of warnings that did not fit in with his world-view continues to burden the US government two decades on Donald Rumsfeld testifies before the federal panel reviewing the Sept. 11 attacks in 2004 Photograph: Gerald Herbert/AP Donald Rumsfeld’s name will forever be associated with the biggest military fiasco in US history, the 2003 invasion of Iraq in pursuit of non-existent weapons of mass destruction, alongside the widespread use of torture that has dogged Ameri