MOD rejects MPs' demand for inquiry into Afghanistan campaign

Ministers have been criticised for refusing to carry out a "no-holds-barred" inquiry into British involvement in Afghanistan including the evacuation as the Taliban retook power.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) argued that the review demanded by MPs would only have "limited" value while consuming "considerable resource".

Defence Committee chairman Tobias Ellwood said the "frustrating" refusal would prevent lessons being learned, as he argued delays had been seen in the ongoing Sudan evacuation.

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The cross-party group of MPs he leads called for an inquiry to be carried out into the 20-year deployment of troops in Afghanistan in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks.

They wanted this to include the airlifts that rescued 15,000 people at risk from the Taliban storming back to power but which left many behind in jeopardy.

However, the Government responded to the committee by saying: "The MOD assesses that the value of a further wide-ranging review of the totality of the Afghanistan campaign is limited, would absorb considerable resource and does not coincide with the now-published Integrated Review."

Mr Ellwood said it was clear that both Parliament and the Government are "equally dismayed and disheartened by the tragic outcome in Afghanistan".

"However, it is frustrating that the Government has not agreed to a no-holds-barred review of the UK's involvement in Afghanistan, as was recommended by the Defence Committee," he said.

'Dark chapter in UK military history'

The Tory MP said that without a public inquiry, the country will not learn from the "dark chapter in UK military history".

"While there are significant differences between the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban and the current crisis in Sudan, it is disappointing that it appears to have taken the UK longer than our allies to get vulnerable citizens to safety,” he added.

"Refusing to engage in a standalone review of the Afghanistan campaign prevents lessons from being consolidated and put into action for future risks."