Britons Flee As Afghanistan Falls

KABUL SEIZED: Paras fly in for dramatic evacuation. Taliban storm presidential palace. PM recalls Parliament.Terror fears grow

- Martyn Brown

THE desperate evacuation of thousands of Britons was under way last night after Afghanistan fell to the Taliban.

Paras, right, led the rescue as militants seized Kabul’s presidential palace.

Boris Johnson recalled MPs to discuss the crisis, warning that Afghanistan must not become a “breeding ground” for terrorists once again. The Prime Minister vowed to get every UK national out “as fast as we can” as British airborne troops, special forces and RAF transport planes were scrambled to help.

After leading a meeting of the Government’s Cobra emergency committee Mr Johnson – pictured yesterday, below – declared the situation was “extremely difficult” and “getting more difficult”.

He added: “Our priority is to make sure we deliver on our obligations to UK nationals, to all those who have helped the British effort in Afghanistan over 20 years, and to get them out as fast as we can.”

Parliament is being recalled on Wednesday to discuss the crisis.

As many as 5,000 British diplomats, citizens and Afghan translators may need to be pulled out of the war-torn country. British ambassador Sir Laurie Bristow was among several diplomats stuck at chaotic Kabul airport as thousands of Afghans tried to flee.

Around 2,000 Afghan interpreters and families were in line to airlifted out of harm’s way. Some 3,000 “entitled personnel” – UK and dual passport holders – may also need saving.

They include aid workers and security staff stationed in Afghanistan. By last night 450 had applied to leave.