FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called on the UK Government to step up in its support for Afghan refugees.
She vowed that Scotland would “play our full part” in supporting vulnerable Afghans amid criticism of the UK Government's handling of offering refuge.
It comes as the Taliban takes over the country following the withdrawal of troops by countries including the US and UK.
READ MORE: UK minister Ben Wallace says criticism of Afghanistan strategy is 'arrogant'
The First Minister highlighted work by Canadian authorities who said they had welcomed a flight full of refugees from Afghanistan.
Canada's immigration body said it will assist in resettling 20,000 Afghans threatened by the Islamist group.
A tweet by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said: “This afternoon, we welcomed a flight of Afghan refugees to Canada. These refugees are part of the 20,000 vulnerable Afghans threatened by the Taliban and forced to flee Afghanistan that Canada will assist in resettling.”
This afternoon, we welcomed a flight of Afghan refugees to Canada. These refugees are part of the 20,000 vulnerable Afghans threatened by the Taliban and forced to flee Afghanistan that Canada will assist in resettling. pic.twitter.com/2duObWTaZG
— IRCC (@CitImmCanada) August 14, 2021
Sturgeon replied: “I hope UK government does similar and offers as much refuge for vulnerable Afghans as possible. As we did with Syrian refugees, @scotgov is willing to play our full part and do all we can to help those in peril as a result of the horrifying situation currently unfolding.”
Boris Johnson is set to recall the Westminster Parliament this week to discuss the situation on Afghanistan.
The last elements of the force sent to evacuate the remaining UK nationals are understood to be in Kabul.
The timing of the return for MPs will be confirmed following discussions with Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford hit out at the lack of a "proper strategy" in the withdrawal of troops.
He said: "The UK – along with our international partners – have a moral duty to the people and government of Afghanistan.
"There are serious questions over the manner of departure from the country, lack of support for the Afghan government, and the reckless cut to aid support.
"Make no mistake about this – the absence of a proper strategy and meaningful planning makes this a serious failure of leadership and one of the biggest foreign policy disasters of modern times.
"I welcome the recall of Parliament to hold the UK Government to account, to discuss next steps to prevent an all-out humanitarian crisis, and to ensure the UK discharges its obligations for all those Afghan citizens who have worked with UK forces."
We highlighted the horrific battle interpreters who have worked with the UK in Afghanistan are facing to be evacuated, despite the threat of death under Taliban rule.
One former interpreter was accepted into the UK’s 7000-place Afghan Relocation and Assistance Programme (Arap) for former support staff in May and told to prepare to leave within four weeks.
READ MORE: Afghan former British Army interpreter facing death after UK refuses him entry
He sold everything before, last week, the Home Office turned him away citing “security fears".
Meanwhile, senior military sources pointed the finger at the Home Office over the failure to evacuate key personnel.
They told The Times that Priti Patel’s department was reluctant to offer asylum due to the message it would send to refugees.
A number of MSPs at Holyrood backed a motion brought by SNP MSP Bob Doris last week showing support for Afghans living in Scotland.
READ MORE: David Pratt: 20 years on the roles have reversed in Afghanistan
Expressing “grave concern”, the motion “extends its solidarity to people from Afghanistan living in Glasgow and Scotland at these most worrying of times; believes that many of them, who have made new lives in Scotland, fleeing terror, war and violence, still have friends, family and loved ones in Afghanistan who are now facing the prospect of being forced to flee their homes, increasing violence, an erosion of their civil liberties and danger to their lives”.
It also “calls on the international community and governments at all levels, with any degree of influence, to urge all involved in the conflict, and currently involved in peace talks, to agree a ceasefire urgently, and for the Taliban to end immediately the reported revenge killings and summary executions and ensure that civil liberties, particularly for women and girls, are protected".
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