Afghanistan: UK PM Boris Johnson personally intervened to ensure animals were included in evacuation efforts

Tens of thousands of Afghans and other nationals were evacuated out of Afghanistan following the US military’s evacuation. Recently leaked emails revealed that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson personally intervened to make sure that animals were included in the UK’s evacuation efforts in Afghanistan.

Business Insider reports that Johnson personally authorized the evacuation of 170 cats and dogs from Afghanistan back in August 2021 during the withdrawal, according to internal government emails. This revelation contradicts the denials made by Downing Street that Johnson oversaw the evacuation of animals from Afghanistan.

An email dated August 25, 2021 by a Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development official said Johnson gave permission for the evacuation. The animals that were to be brought out of Afghanistan were in a rescue shelter run by former Marine Pen Farthing. The email was sent to the FCDO’s “special cases” desk.

“Nowzad, run by an ex-Royal Marine, has received a lot of publicity and the PM has just authorized their staff and animals to be evacuated,” said the email.

The inclusion of animals into the evacuation efforts came under fire at the time, with the many Afghans looking to flee the country out of fear of the Taliban, which has since taken control of the country. The UK Foreign Affairs Select Committee published the email that was submitted by whistleblower Raphael Marshall, who also previously worked for the FCDO.

Johnson’s spokesman reiterated Wednesday that the UK leader did not make any instruction to any official to take action despite admitting that they had not seen the emails. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace also echoed the denial, saying that Johnson had no personal involvement.

Meanwhile, the first US evacuation flight since November left Kabul this week, people familiar with the matter have revealed. A Qatar Airways flight chartered by the US government had an unknown number of Americans on board. A Pentagon official has also confirmed the flight.

This comes as earlier this month, around 80 Americans were still in Afghanistan that is now under the control of the Taliban. State Department spokesman Ned Price said at the time that there are a good number of US nationals who have indicated their preparedness to leave, and around 150 US citizens who did not wish to leave.