Next week will mark six months since the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, and the end of February will mark six months since Britain withdrew its final forces and diplomats from Afghanistan.
Fears about what the return of the Taliban, and their imposition of an Islamist extremist state, would mean for the people of Afghanistan have sadly been proved right. The Taliban’s medieval and brutal ways have resulted in a complete reversal in the rights and freedoms of Afghans, with harrowing news stories showing, among other things, parents forced to sell their own children to buy food, and women and girls having their lives upended by being taken out of work and education.
The Taliban’s return to power has therefore destroyed the positive aspects that we and our allies helped to create with the Afghan people over the course of the previous two decades. In this sense, our withdrawal should be seen as a defeat.
The brave sacrifices made by our Armed Forces and all those who risked life and limb produced formidable achievements, however. Since first stepping foot there in 2001, they improved the lives of the people of Afghanistan, bringing prosperity, political stability, human rights and the rule of law, the likes of which the Afghan people had never previously enjoyed. It was an immense achievement, even on that timescale.
Furthermore, they improved the safety of those elsewhere, the reason behind why the US and its allies went to Afghanistan in the first place. Let us remember that we intervened following the 9/11 attacks because the Taliban had given sanctuary to the Al Qaeda perpetrators of the atrocity. Our response was designed to protect our own safety and security, and it succeeded in that we took down Al-Qaeda networks in the region, avoiding a repeat of 9/11.
Now, with the Taliban back in power, global security is at greater risk once again. Under their rule, 5,000 of our most committed, vicious and determined enemies have been released from Bagram Prison. They will seek their moment. That fact must be acknowledged.
Countries like the UK must make it abundantly clear to the Taliban that we will respond with military means to any security threats, and we must be explicit about what the trigger points will be. The world must put as much pressure as possible directly on the Taliban government and indirectly through their allies. The British government, for example, should see to it that any suggestion that states who are recipients of British aid are giving overt or covert support to the illegal regime is met with immediate consequences.
Questions must also be asked about the internal dynamics of Nato and its members. As the Taliban were sweeping through Afghanistan six months ago, too often complaints were heard within the Nato alliance about being forced to “ride America’s foreign policy coattails,” usually from those political elements who most opposed the build-up of alternative capabilities. Many of the political left who have most opposed increased defence spending, and balked at sharing responsibility for international security, were the first to bleat about having to follow American foreign policy.
The irony seemed to be completely lost on them that those who refuse to build up their own security capacity will, in the end, find themselves more dependent on Washington rather than less. The fact that it was virtually impossible for other Nato allies to maintain a viable security presence without America highlights the imbalance inside the alliance. There is increasing irritation inside American politics that many European allies wallow in high-spending “big states” while expecting American taxpayers to fund global security. There must, therefore, be increased willingness in the free world to make the case for spending and intervention in the cause of international peace and security.
This increased willingness is also needed because the strategic weakness of our alliance shown by the Taliban sweeping to power will have been noted in Tehran, and the capitals of rival world powers. Malevolent forces in these places will have perceived the US and NATO as having been humiliated, or worse, defeated in the face of the Taliban advance.
Returning to Afghanistan itself, we must continue to ensure that the human rights abuses – especially towards other religious groups, women and girls – that were also the hallmark of the previous Taliban government continue to be called out loudly and publicly. This must include the often-forgotten broadcast and print media who enjoyed increased, if not complete, freedom under the democratically elected governments in Afghanistan, another positive aspect that was brought about by international intervention.
We can ultimately only win against the Taliban, or those who share their oppressive practices, by winning the war of ideas, and we must begin by believing that what we offer as a society is not just different from theirs, but better. We need to believe that representative government is better than totalitarianism, that an impartial rule of law is better than theocracy, and that freedom and human rights are better than oppression and prejudice. Freedom will not come for free. There is a political and financial cost to be paid for it. If we are unwilling to pay for it, we have to accept the consequences.
Six months on, it is vital we learn these lessons to avoid a repeat of the loss of Afghanistan in other countries in the future.
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
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Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
THREE
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EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
THE SPECS
Range Rover Sport Autobiography Dynamic
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 518bhp
Torque: 625Nm
Speed: 0-100kmh 5.3 seconds
Price: Dh633,435
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
Men
1 Marius Kipserem (KEN) 2:04:04
2 Abraham Kiptum (KEN) 2:04:16
3 Dejene Debela Gonfra (ETH) 2:07:06
4 Thomas Rono (KEN) 2:07:12
5 Stanley Biwott (KEN) 2:09:18
Women
1 Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) 2:20:16
2 Eunice Chumba (BRN) 2:20:54
3 Gelete Burka (ETH) 2:24:07
4 Chaltu Tafa (ETH) 2:25:09
5 Caroline Kilel (KEN) 2:29:14
Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
THE DRAFT
The final phase of player recruitment for the T10 League has taken place, with UAE and Indian players being drafted to each of the eight teams.
Bengal Tigers
UAE players: Chirag Suri, Mohammed Usman
Indian: Zaheer Khan
Karachians
UAE players: Ahmed Raza, Ghulam Shabber
Indian: Pravin Tambe
Kerala Kings
UAE players: Mohammed Naveed, Abdul Shakoor
Indian: RS Sodhi
Maratha Arabians
UAE players: Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat
Indian: S Badrinath
Northern Warriors
UAE players: Imran Haider, Rahul Bhatia
Indian: Amitoze Singh
Pakhtoons
UAE players: Hafiz Kaleem, Sheer Walli
Indian: RP Singh
Punjabi Legends
UAE players: Shaiman Anwar, Sandy Singh
Indian: Praveen Kumar
Rajputs
UAE players: Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed
Indian: Munaf Patel
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It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
