Britain does not need a full inquiry into its military operations in Afghanistan because the invasion was a just war, the head of the UK’s armed forces said.
Gen Sir Nick Carter said the 20-year campaign in Afghanistan was less contentious than the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Britain’s departure from Iraq in 2009 was followed by the protracted Chilcot Inquiry, a seven-year effort which criticised the UK’s decision to go to war.
The Nato withdrawal from Afghanistan has prompted calls for a Chilcot-style audit into Britain’s operations against the Taliban.
But Gen Carter, the current chief of the defence staff, told the Daily Telegraph that the reasoning behind the war in Afghanistan was widely accepted.
“One has to remember why we had a Chilcot inquiry,” he said.
"As I recall, it was because there were some big questions raised about the justness of the war in Iraq.
“I don't think anybody is questioning the true justness of the war in Afghanistan. It was very clear why the international community went to Afghanistan to do what it did and nobody has questioned that.”
A US-led coalition invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to remove the Taliban from power and prevent Al Qaeda from using the country as a base.
US President Joe Biden announced in April that the US withdrawal from Afghanistan would be complete by September 11, the 20th anniversary of the attacks on New York and Washington.
Britain is following Washington’s lead, and most of its troops have already left the country, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said last week.
Mr Johnson said the mission had succeeded in reducing the terrorist threat emanating from Afghanistan.
The UK sent to Afghanistan more than 150,000 military personnel, of whom 454 were killed.
Gen Carter said lessons could be learnt from Afghanistan via an internal government audit rather than a costly public inquiry.
The Chilcot Inquiry cost about £13 million ($17.9m) and was years overdue by the time it submitted is findings in 2016.
Gen Carter expressed optimism that Afghan forces would be able to resist the advance of the Taliban, who allegedly control 85 per cent of Afghanistan.
Fears are growing that Afghan military forces will be overrun by the Taliban once the Nato withdrawal is complete.
But Gen Carter said the militants were overextended and that the Afghan military could fend them off by keeping control of key regional capitals.
Britain will continue to provide funding for Afghan security forces and support peace talks after the military presence ends.
Mr Johnson said last week that Britain would “use every diplomatic and humanitarian lever” to support Afghanistan.
Echoing Mr Biden, he said that the international military presence in the country was never intended to be permanent.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Fixture: Liechtenstein v Italy, Tuesday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match is shown on BeIN Sports
AVOID SCAMMERS: TIPS FROM EMIRATES NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
WHAT IS GRAPHENE?
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were experimenting with sticky tape and graphite, the material used as lead in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But when they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
Players Selected for La Liga Trials
U18 Age Group
Name: Ahmed Salam (Malaga)
Position: Right Wing
Nationality: Jordanian
Name: Yahia Iraqi (Malaga)
Position: Left Wing
Nationality: Morocco
Name: Mohammed Bouherrafa (Almeria)
Position: Centre-Midfield
Nationality: French
Name: Mohammed Rajeh (Cadiz)
Position: Striker
Nationality: Jordanian
U16 Age Group
Name: Mehdi Elkhamlichi (Malaga)
Position: Lead Striker
Nationality: Morocco
Women & Power: A Manifesto
Mary Beard
Profile Books and London Review of Books
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Bayern Munich 2 Borussia Monchengladbach 1
Bayern: Zirkzee (26'), Goretzka (86')
Gladbach: Pavard (37' og)
Man of the Match: Breel Embolo (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
CONCRETE COWBOY
Directed by: Ricky Staub
Starring: Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin, Jharrel Jerome
3.5/5 stars
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
UFC%20FIGHT%20NIGHT%3A%20SAUDI%20ARABIA%20RESULTS
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The specs: Aston Martin DB11 V8 vs Ferrari GTC4Lusso T
Price, base: Dh840,000; Dh120,000
Engine: 4.0L V8 twin-turbo; 3.9L V8 turbo
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic; seven-speed automatic
Power: 509hp @ 6,000rpm; 601hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 695Nm @ 2,000rpm; 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.9L / 100km; 11.6L / 100km
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
THREE
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