Boris Johnson: Taliban must understand need to allow people to leave Afghanistan

Boris Johnson has insisted the UK needs to “level” with the Taliban and make them understand the need to give safe passage to those wanting to leave Afghanistan. The Prime Minister signalled further engagement between the West and the Taliban could be dependent on enabling the departures of Britons and Afghans left behind. Mr Johnson also claimed it had been “clear for many months” that the situation in Afghanistan could change “very fast”, but insisted the UK Government’s response to the Taliban surge to power was not “spur of the moment”.