First Brits and Afghan refugees touch down in UK following evacuation mission

The first Britons and Afghan refugees have touched down in the UK following an RAF rescue.

Evacuees aboard an Airbus KC2 Voyager aircraft from Kabul were seen departing the aircraft after landing at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire last night.

Britain is sending 900 soldiers back to Afghanistan over the coming days to help with repatriations and evacuations following the rapid Taliban takeover of the country.

Officials are aiming to take 1,200 to 1,500 people from Afghanistan a day.

About 20,000 Afghans are to be flown to Britain to escape the Taliban, which has seized control of Kabul.

The new scheme will see Afghans offered a route to set up home in the UK in the coming years.

In the first year, 5,000 refugees will be eligible, with women, girls and others in need having priority, the Government has promised.

Home Secretary Priti Patel urged other countries to help. She wrote in the Daily Telegraph: ”We cannot do this alone".

The new plan is on top of the existing scheme for interpreters and other staff who worked for the UK.

Parliament has been recalled and Boris Johnson is to open a debate in the House of Commons about the situation in Afghanistan on Wednesday morning.

Downing Street said Mr Johnson spoke to US President Joe Biden on Tuesday evening about the evacuation of Kabul.

The leaders "resolved to continue working closely together on this in the days and weeks ahead to allow as many people as possible to leave the country", a spokesperson said.

Mr Johnson is said to have told Mr Biden that gains made in Afghanistan must not be lost.

The call follows a wave of criticism from US media and British and European politicians following the Taliban's takeover.

Mr Johnson and the US President also agreed to hold a virtual G7 leaders’ meeting next week to discuss a common strategy and approach to Afghanistan.

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