Johnson acknowledges hundreds of Afghans are yet to be evacuated

Boris Johnson has insisted he will do “everything possible” to help people flee the Taliban, while acknowledging hundreds of Afghans who assisted the UK remain in the country.

The prime minister confirmed that 311 people entitled to resettlement under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) are still in Afghanistan.

He said the government would also respond to emails from MPs asking for assistance by close of play yesterday, amid concerns that thousands of messages went unread during the crisis.

Conservative former prime minister Theresa May later voiced fears over the increased terror threat from Afghanistan following the withdrawal of Nato troops.

Mr Johnson said the UK has “no direct information as yet of any increase to the threat” but pledged to make “every effort” to keep the UK safe.

Both the prime minister and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab have been criticised over the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan and their response since the Taliban takeover.

More than 8,000 former Afghan staff and their family members were among the 15,000-plus people evacuated by the UK since August 13.

But up to 1,100 Afghans deemed eligible, including those who worked with Britain and other vulnerable people, were estimated to have been left behind, though that figure will fall short of the true number the UK would wish to help.

Making a statement to the Commons, Mr Johnson said: “Let me say to anyone who we’ve made commitments to and who is currently in Afghanistan – we are working urgently with our friends in the region to secure safe passage and as soon as routes are available we will do everything possible to help you to reach safety.”

Mr Johnson confirmed an additional £5 million to help military charities offering support on mental health issues to veterans and thanked personnel for their service during the 20year campaign and the evacuation effort, known as Operation Pitting.

The SNP’s Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, asked the prime minister for details of how many candidates for the Arap scheme remained in the country.

The prime minister replied: “As for the question of how many Arap candidates are remaining I can tell him that the total number is 311, of which 192 responded to the calls that were put out and, I repeat, we will do absolutely everything we can to ensure that those people get the safe passage that they deserve using the levers that I have described.”

Mr Johnson also said he was happy to meet with devolved administrations to collaborate on Afghan resettlements in a “fournations summit” suggested by Mr Blackford, and committed to answering all emails from MPs calling for assistance with evacuating Afghans.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for British troops to receive a medal for their “remarkable” efforts via Operation Pitting to evacuate thousands of people from Afghanistan.

He also said UK forces were “let down” by the political leadership of the country, noting: “We are proud of all those who contributed.”

TALIBAN TAKEOVER: Up to 1,100 Afghans deemed eligible to come to the UK have been left behind.