UK government urges Brits to leave Afghanistan

The UK government on Wednesday issued a travel warning for Afghanistan and urged all British nationals in the country to consider leaving by commercial means.

According to a statement on the UK government’s website, the Foreign Office advised against all but essential travel to provinces and to the “Enhanced Security Zone in Kabul” and the Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Reasons cited for this were “security”.

“The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to: the whole of Afghanistan based on security reasons.

“The FCDO advises British nationals in Afghanistan to consider leaving by commercial means, in view of the likely heightened security risks.

“This change in the level of advice follows public statements by the Taliban which may increase the possibility of attacks after 1 May. The security situation will remain uncertain, with the possibility of heightened threats,” read the statement.

According to the FCDO, the level of consular assistance the British Embassy can provide to travellers in Afghanistan is extremely limited.

“There are limits to the assistance the FCDO can provide in a crisis, depending on the security and transport situation. You should not assume that the FCDO will be able to provide assistance to leave the country.”