The UK government carried out a secret £7 billion airlift operation to evacuate 18,500 Afghans to Britain following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, according to the Daily Mail.
The large-scale rescue mission has only now been made public after a two-year legal battle to lift a superinjunction that kept the operation confidential.
The evacuation aimed to protect Afghans who had worked with the UK military, diplomats, and aid groups, as well as families and individuals at risk of Taliban reprisals.
The operation involved multiple flights and required careful logistical planning to ensure the safety of thousands of people fleeing the country under urgent and dangerous conditions.
Government officials said the airlift was funded with £7 billion of public money. This figure had not been disclosed until now due to the secrecy surrounding the mission.
The UK’s evacuation mission began after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. The sudden political shift placed many Afghans in danger, especially those who had supported Western efforts during the 20-year conflict.
Officials have defended the secrecy of the operation, saying it was necessary to protect national security and the safety of evacuees. However, the newly revealed information has sparked debate about government transparency and the financial scale of the effort.
Supporters of the airlift say it was a moral and diplomatic obligation to help vulnerable Afghans who had risked their lives by working alongside British forces.
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