Committees

Government policy on Afghanistan

Inquiry

International forces withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, 20 years after the US-led invasion. The Taliban quickly gained control of the country, taking Kabul on 15 August and triggering an immense effort to evacuate UK nationals and others eligible for protection. This inquiry will examine the FCDO’s role in the withdrawal, including how effectively it planned and coordinated with other powers. It will also look ahead to the objectives of the UK’s future relationship with Afghanistan, including the security, counter-terrorism, human rights and humanitarian impact of the Taliban’s takeover, and the implications for wider UK foreign policy.

Read the call for evidence for more details about the inquiry

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was 11:59pm on 31 October 2021.

Upcoming events

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No upcoming events scheduled

Past events

Monday 25 April 2022
3:30pm Private
4:00pm Public
Government policy on Afghanistan - Oral evidence 25 April 2022
4:00pm
  • Sir Stephen Lovegrove (National Security Adviser at Cabinet Office)
Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Monday 21 March 2022
3:45pm Private
4:00pm Public
Government policy on Afghanistan - Oral evidence 21 March 2022
4:00pm
  • Sir Philip Barton KCMG OBE (Permanent Under-Secretary at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
  • Nigel Casey MVO (Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Tuesday 25 January 2022
2:30pm Public
Government policy on Afghanistan - Oral evidence 25 January 2022
2:30pm
  • Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP (Secretary of State for Defence at Ministry of Defence)
  • Admiral Sir Ben Key KCB CBE (First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff at Ministry of Defence)
3:30pm
  • The Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Minister of State (Minister for South and Central Asia, United Nations and the Commonwealth) at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
  • Nigel Casey MVO (Director for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran Directorate at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Tuesday 7 December 2021
2:00pm Private
3:00pm Public
Government policy on Afghanistan - Oral evidence 7 December 2021
3:00pm
  • Sir Philip Barton KCMG OBE (Permanent Under-Secretary at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
  • Nigel Casey MVO (Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and Director for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran Directorate (APID) at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
  • Sir Laurie Bristow KCMG
Room 16, Palace of Westminster

Contact us

We receive a significant number of emails each day. All requests and invitations are considered but we do not respond directly to everyone. Please be aware, the committee does not look at individual cases or specific complaints.

  • Email: fac@parliament.uk
  • Address: Foreign Affairs Committee, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA