LONDON, 14 August 2021, (TON): Britain will not abandon Afghanistan, Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed on Friday, even as he confirmed the imminent withdrawal of most embassy staff in the face of a rapid Taliban onslaught.

With the Islamists seizing control of more Afghan cities, Britain is deploying around 600 troops to help evacuate its roughly 3,000 nationals from the country, and Johnson said the “vast bulk” of remaining embassy staff in Kabul would return to the UK.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said “President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw US troops, forcing Nato allies to follow suit, “leaves a very big problem on the ground” and handed momentum to the Taliban.

He predicted it would benefit Al-Qaeda, who were given safe haven by the Taliban before the September 11, 2001 attacks that prompted the West's 20-year involvement in Afghanistan.

Johnson, however, said after convening crisis talks with senior cabinet colleagues that the West retained a strategic interest in backing the beleaguered Kabul government.

He told reporters “I think we have got to be realistic about the power of the UK or any power to impose a military solution, a combat solution, in Afghanista.”

What we certainly can do is work with all our partners in the region, around the world, who share an interest with us in preventing Afghanistan once again becoming a breeding ground for terror.

He stressed “what we must do now is not turn our backs on Afghanistan, Britain could be “extremely proud” of its role in the country, especially in advancing girls' education, gains that are now imperilled by the Taliban advance.”

The prime minister added that UK interior ministry officials were flying out to Kabul to help Afghan interpreters who served with the UK military to apply for resettlement in Britain.