Afghanistan: Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Northwood military base

Boris Johnson was given a tour today of the British Armed Forces' Permanent Joint Headquarters, which is situated between Moor Park and Northwood.

The base off Sandy Lane is the British tri-service headquarters from where all overseas military operations are planned and controlled.

Mr Johnson was greeted by Vice Admiral Sir Ben Key and introduced to military personnel before being taken inside the headquarters.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson walks with Vice Admiral Ben Key (left) as he arrives for a visit to Northwood Headquarters. Credit: PA

He observed the operations room for the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy and was also shown a map of Afghanistan.

The Prime Minister asked what kind of security checks were carried out on those who applied for the resettlement schemes.

He also read emails sent by Afghans wishing to come to the UK, before meeting a former Afghan interpreter – also called Boris – who was helping with the effort.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson with an Afghan interpreter. Credit: PA

The interpreter, who only gave his first name, told Mr Johnson he was originally from Kabul and worked as an interpreter for the British Army from 2006 before working at Camp Bastion and then moving to the UK and becoming a British citizen.

Speaking about the interpreters still in Afghanistan that he was in contact with to arrange their resettlement, he told the Prime Minister: "When I call them, I remember the guys who I worked with."

He said he was also now a reservist for the Army.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson observes the operations room. Credit: PA

Speaking to broadcasters during the visit, Mr Johnson said around 15,000 people had already been evacuated by British troops from Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover.

When asked how much longer the evacuation flights are going to continue for, Mr Johnson replied: "Well, we’ll keep going, obviously, for as long as we can and I think what people should also understand is, what an incredible achievement this has been by the UK military, just in the last 10 days or so.

"The operation, Op Pitting, has brought… airlifted 15,000 people to this country from Afghanistan, there’s been nothing like it in terms of speed and scale in our lifetimes, certainly in my memory.

"And that’s equivalent to a town the size of Beaconsfield or Prestwick or Abergavenny or Armagh and obviously, there’s a huge amount of work now going on to make sure that we find homes, find ways of integrating those people into this country."

Boris Johnson with Vice Admiral Ben Key (right) as he looks at a map of the Afghanistan region during a visit to Northwood Headquarters. Credit: PA

He continued: "But we owe them a debt, and they’re people who looked after our armed forces, helped for the 20 years of the UK’s engagement in Afghanistan, it’s absolutely the right thing to do.

"And we’ve got the overwhelming majority of those to whom we owe that debt out of Afghanistan, as I stand and talk to you now, in the time we have left, which may be, as I’m sure everybody can appreciate, quite short, we’ll do everything we can to get everybody else."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson walks with Vice Admiral Ben Key (left) as he leaves following a visit to Northwood Headquarters. Credit: PA

The Prime Minister added: "But I want to stress that this is just the first phase.

"So even beyond the US deadline of the 31st of this month, we hope to continue to be able to say to people, well, you can come out and one of the key things that we’re saying to the Taliban, to the government, the new authorities in Kabul, is to engage with the west, to unlock those funds, safe passage for those who want to come out is obviously the number one condition."