Time to upgrade our Afghanistan Strategy

Sky News Interview Transcript - 26th September 2025:

What do you make of it? Afghans who were0 relocated here are now heading back for holidays and other trips?

It does seem astonishing. I think we should recognize that when you go to0 Afghanistan itself, it is a very different place than what we read about here. We should stress it's still very, very dangerous indeed. But what you just reported does raise questions as to0 whether we've got the right strategy.

One in six of the illegal immigrants coming to the UK are from Afghanistan. And were we to develop a better0 relationship with the country itself then more people would be willing to0 return. But absolutely it is dangerous.

The Taliban themselves when I've spoken to them have made it very very clear0 that they have no anger against, no reprisals against anybody that served. Afghan is a Afghanistan is a place that's actually endured a lot of wars. They draw the line on that. What the Taliban cannot vouch for is some individual in a village such as was reported just there taking their own action which is why it remains very dangerous indeed.

But it raises a bigger question as to whether or not our shouting from afar. We've not even opened an embassy there. Our engagement with the Taliban, not recognition, but our engagement with the country itself could be better served by advancing the country and nudging the country into a better direction from a governance and security perspective.

When I visited it was clear the country economically is in decline. It's turning into a Chinese vassal state. But more worryingly is the absence of education for under 12 year olds. Those that will then turn into the next extremist. ISIS is now growing to replace al-Qaeda because the Taliban itself has become the establishment. So some big questions that your report interestingly raises now as to what our strategy should be moving forward.