TALIBAN TO CLAIM BILLIONS IN WAR COMPO FROM UK
Military chiefs urge the UK government not to cave
The Taliban government is set to demand billions from the UK and other nations as reparations for the 20-year war in Afghanistan.
Reports in Kabul suggest the demand is imminent – and that the Taliban is confident the UK will cave in.
N o o r M o h amma d Mutawakel, of the ministry of information and culture, said: “Britain is ready to pay us war reparations and we welcome that.
“Other countries involved in the war must also be prepared to pay.”
One Whitehall source said: “We don’t know what they’re going to ask for but it could be in the billions across everyone involved. Whether we pay it or not is a different matter.”
UK defence chiefs have reacted angrily. Col Richard Kemp, a former commander of British troops in Afghanistan, said: “It is an outrage for the terrorist group that took over the countr y to demand reparations from countries that fought in Afghanistan to support the legitimate government.
“The British Government should not even contemplate paying a penny to these bloodthirsty killers whose lies about passing funds on to the people who suffered as a result of their terrorist campaign should be treated with contempt.
“This will be the first of many demands from a regime capable of murdering, torturing and subjugating the population – and driving the country to ruin.” The news came as an Isis suicide bomber killed at least 50 people in Kunduz on Friday. It was also revealed diplomats met with Taliban leaders to negotiate safe passage out of Afghanistan for those with UK links.
Some fear the Taliban could use them to up the ante in any cash negotiations. Col Philip Ingram, a former Army intelligence officer, said: “The UK is in a very diff icult position. I don’t think they should pay but it is important no country pays as any lack of unity will be exploited. The Taliban are very clever. All through the evacuation, they kept making statements they knew western governments wanted to hear.
“Now aid has been cut and they need cash, they are doing the same with their messaging and will probably link it to allowing people to continue to leave.”
The MoD refused to comment on reparations but conf irmed there wi l l be compensation for civilian casualties.
A spokesman said: “Every civilian death is a tragedy. “The UK seeks to minimise risk through rigorous targeting processes but that risk can never be removed entirely.”
MoD data shows payouts were made over the deaths of 289 people from 2006-13. One fami ly got just £104.17.
Overall, £ 688,000 was paid out. One family received £586.42 for the death of a boy aged 10 – less than the £662 another family received for the death of a herd of donkeys.
It is an outrage for a terror group to demand payment
Col Richard Kemp