Foreign Secretary Snubs Boris, Delays Kabul Evacuation
The beleaguered Foreign Secretary was reportedly ordered by a senior Downing Street official to rush back to London on Friday 13 August as the Taliban closed in on Kabul. But he is said to have ‘nobbled’ Boris Johnson, with the Prime Minister assuring him he could stay put at his luxury beach holiday until Sunday. He finally returned in the early hours of Monday morning—days after the crisis escalated.
Taliban Flaunt US Gear on Streets of Kabul
Less than a week after Kabul fell, the Taliban have released chilling propaganda footage showing fighters decked out in full US tactical gear. Humvees and other American military hardware continue to roam Afghan streets, signalling a disturbing trophy haul. At a crowded mosque on Friday, a senior Taliban splinter group leader preached while brandishing a US-made M4 rifle surrounded by fighters in official US military uniforms.
Billions Spent, Cities Lost: The Costly Afghan Debacle
- The US supplied around $28 billion worth of weaponry to Afghanistan between 2002 and 2017.
- Overall expenditure for the two-decade effort topped a staggering $83 billion.
- Despite the investment, Afghan cities fell like dominoes in recent weeks.
Evacuations Hit 17,000 as Chaos Continues
On Saturday, the US Department of Defense confirmed it had flown out 17,000 people from Kabul airport, including about 2,500 US citizens. However, not all evacuees were safe—an official revealed some Americans and Afghans faced harassment and were even beaten on their way to the airport.
