Commons security committee ‘could request intelligence analysis’ on rapid fall of Afghanistan

Action could put to the test ministers’ assertions that the swift takeover of Afghanistan was unforeseen

Parliament’s security committee could reportedly request a secret analysis from the intelligence community over the rapid fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban insurgency.

It comes amid chaotic scenes at Hamid Karzai international airport, with the UK government facing “formidable” challenges in the evacuation and airlift of British nationals and Afghans granted visas from the region.

According to sources quoted inThe Guardian, the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), which meets in private and can demand documents from the security services, is “extremely likely” to request to see an assessment on Afghanistan.

The parliamentary body is responsible for overseeing the UK’s joint intelligence committee — covering the policies and operations of key agencies such as MI5, MI6 and GCHQ.

The move could put to the test ministers’ assertions that the swift takeover of the Afghan capital, Kabul, last weekend was not foreseen, including Dominic Raab’s suggestion this week that “no one” saw it coming.

The foreign secretary claimed governments across the world were “surprised” and “caught off-guard” by the scale and pace of the Taliban’s advance and the downfall of the Afghan government and its forces.

Highlighting the issue of intelligence earlier this week during an emergency Commons debate, former prime minister Theresa May asked Boris Johnson: “Was our intelligence really so poor? Was our understanding of the Afghan government so weak? Was our knowledge of the position on the ground so inadequate?”

However, The Guardian added that a decision on any probe by the ISC is not expected until its nine MPs convene in October and that it does not have the remit to investigate ongoing operations.

Chair of the committee, Julian Lewis, told an emergency Commons debate on Afghanistan, held on Wednesday, that he was “not in a position” to comment on the activities that the intelligence committee “might or might not agree to do”.

His comments came in response to a question from the Tory MP Mark Harper, who asked whether the Intelligence and Security Committee had any plans to investigate “intelligence failures” in the country. Mr Lewis added that the question was “pertinent”.

Ex-Tory MP Dominic Grieve, a former chair of the ISC committee, reiterated his call on Saturday for the current membership to investigate whether there was an “intelligence failure” that led to the chaotic withdrawal of allied troops from Afghanistan.

Mr Grieve told Sky News: “I think you only have to look at the scenes we are seeing today [at Kabul airport] – I can’t imagine this was what was wished for or intended by either the United States government or the government of the United Kingdom.

“The question is, why was that miscalculation made - and the Intelligence and Security Committee is in a position to review that, certainly from a United Kingdom angle and probably also from the angle of the United States.

“Whether it will be able to publish that material after it has reviewed it is another matter, but it certainly has power to ask for it in respect to both the secret intelligence service, MI6, and also defence intelligence.”

The ISC has been contacted by The Independent for comment.