Shaking hands with the Taliban
Our man in Kabul is first to meet militants after takeover
BRITAIN shook hands with the Taliban yesterday, becoming the first major Western power to publicly meet the militants since the fall of Afghanistan.
The delegation, led by the Prime Minister’s envoy Sir Simon Gass, demanded free passage for hundreds of former interpreters and British nationals stranded in Afghanistan after Western troops left in August.
The unannounced visit to Kabul saw Sir Simon and Martin Longden, chargé d’affaires of the UK Mission to Afghanistan in Doha, meet Taliban deputy leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar – known as ‘The Butcher’ – and foreign secretary Amir Khan Muttaqi.
The UK contingent pressed for the new regime to prevent Afghanistan becoming a haven for international terrorists, on the rights of women and girls and the growing humanitarian crisis.
The meeting may give hope to translators and other UK staff who felt betrayed at being left behind when British troops withdrew. More than 8,000 Afghans were evacuated to the UK in the August airlift but, according to latest estimates, 311 who qualify to come to the UK under the Ministry of
Defence’s official relocation scheme remain in the country, including more than 200 former interpreters. There are also thought to be at least 100 UK passport holders still in Afghanistan.
When the British group left for Qatar hours later, they were accompanied by a former British soldier previously arrested by the Taliban. Ben Slater had been held since last month after planning to evacuate hundreds of UK nationals and Afghans.
Mr Longden said on Twitter: ‘Such difficult challenges lie ahead for Afghanistan (and beyond), it’s right to test if we can engage pragmatically and find common ground – in the interests of both the UK and Afghan peoples.’ The Taliban posted images of the meeting on its social media accounts, claiming a propaganda coup.
But last night, diplomatic sources in London denied the Taliban’s claim that the meeting amounted to Britain starting diplomatic relations with the group. They insisted the meeting was merely a continuation of dialogue that has been going on behind the scenes and not official recognition.
Baradar told Sir Simon: ‘We are on good terms with the UK and the world. We want relations and call on the international community to hand over Afghanistan’s capital to
Afghans.’ This was seen as a reference to Taliban demands for reparations from Western countries for deaths and property damage in the 20-year conflict.
Baradar is known as The Butcher for years of fighting guerilla wars in the Middle East using tactics of roadside bombs and deadly ambushes on Western troops. After Baradar was arrested in 2010 after years as a wanted man, former Tory MP Patrick Mercer, an ex-soldier, said he was behind operations that claimed the lives of more than 260 British soldiers.
A Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office spokesman said officials discussed ‘how the UK could help Afghanistan address the humanitarian crisis, the importance of preventing the country becoming an incubator for terrorism, and the need for continued safe passage for those who want to leave’.