First and foremost, I do recognise what a vitally important issue this is, and I am diligently actioning all individual casework raised by my constituents in relation to British and non-British nationals in Afghanistan. Please be assured that I will continue to take forward these specific cases with the utmost urgency.
Between 15 and 29 August, under Operation PITTING, the UK evacuated around 15,000 people from Afghanistan to the UK. That included more around 8,300 British nationals and their families; 5,000 Afghans and their families under the ARAP scheme who loyally served the UK; and about 500 special cases of particularly vulnerable Afghans and their families, including Chevening scholars, journalists, human rights defenders, campaigners for women’s rights, judges and many others. I pay tribute to all the military personnel and FCDO staff in Kabul, back home and around the world who made this extraordinary logistical feat possible. Their toil, courage and determination serve as an example for us all.
The Government has supported over 3,400 people to leave Afghanistan, or to move from third countries to the UK, since the end of Operation PITTING. This includes over 1,200 British nationals and eligible dependants.
Consular staff at the FCDO endeavour to give appropriate and tailored support to British nationals overseas 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. For all countries British nationals are encouraged to follow FCDO Travel Advice and sign up for email alerts. The Travel Advice for Afghanistan has the latest information on the situation and the FCDO's contact details.
In light of the prevailing security situation, the British Embassy in Kabul has suspended in-country operations. All UK diplomatic and consular staff have been withdrawn from Afghanistan, and the Embassy has temporarily relocated to Doha, Qatar.
The British High Commission in Pakistan and Embassies in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, reinforced by the FCDO's Rapid Deployment Teams, are helping to provide consular support and process arrivals from Afghanistan. Teams have also deployed to Qatar and United Arab Emirates to assist UK operations there.
As noted above, the FCDO has supported hundreds of British nationals and their dependents to leave Afghanistan since Operation PITTING concluded. This includes helping them leave on flights chartered by the Qatari Government. Working with international partners, the FCDO will continue to support British nationals and their dependants to leave Afghanistan if that is their wish.
The FCDO intends to re-establish a diplomatic presence in Kabul as soon as the security and political situation in Afghanistan allows. In the meantime, I am assured that HM Government, using every political and diplomatic means at its disposal, is doing all it can to support British nationals who remain in Afghanistan.