Sacrifices by our troops were not in vain and we must still hold Taliban to account
DALES MP Sarah Dines gives her thoughts on the situation in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of US troops and the crisis following the Taliban takeover
PARLIAMENT was recalled last Wednesday, and I heard from my colleagues from across the House their views and moving contributions to the debate on Afghanistan. I didn’t have the opportunity to speak, but I thought I would share with you some of my views here.
We have many veterans living in Derbyshire Dales, and I know that, like me, residents are proud of our servicemen and women.
There are those that believe the last 20 years have been for nothing, but in my view that couldn’t be more incorrect.
The sacrifice of our Armed Forces in Afghanistan directly benefited the lives of people in Afghanistan.
The UK can be extremely proud of what has been done in Afghanistan over the past 20 years.
Thanks to the efforts and sacrifices of our Armed Forces there are millions of girls and young women who’ve been educated in Afghanistan and we have seen huge human rights gains in the country. This is a direct result of our Armed Forces.
There are young people, now 20 years old, who have had the opportunities that under the Taliban regime would have only ever been a dream.
Women have held political office, had jobs in engineering, joined the military and police forces and have been encouraged in their education and the opportunities it affords.
I want to thank our Armed Forces. Without them women and girls in Afghanistan would not have had those opportunities; put simply, our Armed Forces have allowed a generation of women and girls to grow up in freedom, without fear of oppression and in a society that celebrated them for the incredible, smart and capable people that young girls and women are.
This is something to be proud of, which makes the threat of young people losing these advantages even more tragic.
The Government are working with our international partners to hold the Taliban to account on terrorism, human rights, and protections for women, girls, and minorities.
We have made it clear that the Taliban must protect and uphold human rights, including those of women, girls and minorities – and that they can expect to face sanctions or the suspension of Overseas Development Assistance if they commit human rights abuses or host terrorist organisations.
We are supporting the safe departure of British nationals and Afghans by deploying 900 troops and civilian personnel to provide protection and support to evacuating British nationals and Afghan staff.
We are deploying 900 troops and civilian personnel to the region to provide support to Operation Pitting.
They will provide force protection and logistical support for the relocation of British nationals as well as Afghan interpreters, staff and their families, and more are being deployed and held at readiness if needed.
I have been following our national response with regular meetings including with the ministerial team and on Monday with the ambassador, Sir Laurie Bristow, and can say we should all be humbled and proud of the efforts our country has made both on the ground and at home at some, not inconsiderable, personal risk to undertake the evacuation, which is continuing.
Friday marked 81 years since Winston Churchill spoke the immortal words “Never in the field of human conflict was so much been owed by so many to so few” as brave RAF crews fought in the Battle of Britain. Before this speech and every day since, our Armed Forces have kept safe and fought for freedoms.
I thank them for this, for the past 20 years in Afghanistan, for their fights to keep us safe and their work during the pandemic at home.
If you are a veteran or a friend or family member who knows of a veteran who is struggling at this time, please do get in contact with me at sarah.dines. mp@parliament.uk and I will do my best to help.
There are young people who have had the opportunities the Taliban regime would have allowed