Like it or not, the UK needs to be on the ground again in Afghanistan

Former ambassador to Afghanistan Nicholas Kay argues ‘thick-skinned’ diplomacy is needed to prevent state collapse and chaos, even while holding the Taliban to account and enforcing existing sanctions

A Taliban fighter stands guard as women wait to receive food rations distributed by a humanitarian aid group in Kabul in May (AP)

Afghans and their friends still feel the shock of the Taliban victory in August 2021. Twenty years of dreams were lost overnight. A barrage of emotions followed: denial, anger, confusion and – for some – the beginning of a search for ways to move forward.

For over 40 years I have worked intermittently on Afghanistan, including as the UK ambassador to the country between 2017 and 2019. I know the harm inflicted by outsiders – its neighbours, the Soviet Union, Nato and the West have all made significant mistakes.

While it has suffered from foreign interference in the past, there is no question Afghan people need our help now. There are three things we should do to help Afghans prepare for the future.