WHEN Tony Blair declared war on the Taliban in the wake of the terror attacks in New York 20 years ago, our then PM pledged Britain “will not walk away” from the Afghan people.
But now, as the last of the Allied forces quietly leave Afghanistan in the dead of night, those who sacrificed so much in the bloody struggle in that faraway land feel betrayed.
Before British and US forces had even packed up their belongings, the Taliban had started to take back large swathes of the country.
And military top brass fear that it will not be long before the ruthless jihadists gain total control.
With 454 British military personnel having lost their lives fighting to keep the land out of Taliban hands, their loved ones and surviving veterans are asking, what was the point?
Stuart Pearson, whose leg was blown off while rescuing a comrade from a minefield near Kajaki Dam in Helmand in 2006, tells The Sun: “I lost friends out there. It feels wasted.
“What did we achieve if the Taliban are going to take control?”
Jo Jukes, whose hero husband David suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and took his own life after 21 years of service, says: “Thousands and thousands of lives have been sacrificed for this war, and for what?
“We’re not just talking about those British forces who died there, but also those who returned broken, their families who are still living with the consequences, and also all the Afghans who will now be living under the daily terror of the Taliban.”
British troops were originally sent to Afghanistan in 2001 as part of a 130,000-strong Nato force tasked with removing the Taliban regime which had sheltered 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden.
The Allies quickly forced them out, but holding the country proved to be costly.
Our men and women were repeatedly attacked in Helmand Province, often being killed or maimed by improvised explosive devices.
Since our combat troops left in 2014, 750 British personnel have remained to help train and assist the Afghan national army. Over the past few weeks they too have left, along with the final US troops and the much-needed air support.
Humiliatingly, the Americans did not even tell their Afghan allies when they were quitting Bagram air base.
It was looted before the local army could take back control.
Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat, who spent two years on combat operations in Afghanistan and helped set up the national security council, describes that as “a gut punch.”
He adds: “It is a political mistake. We won the operation, the government there is forming and by pulling out we have created a vacuum.
“The chances of this holding are remote.”
There are reports of Afghan army troops abandoning bases, while others stand and fight.
A third of the landmass is now under Taliban control.
All the efforts to support the impoverished country’s fledgling democracy, which included supporting women’s rights to education which was banned under the Taliban, will turn to dust.
The 7,000 prisoners at Parwan Detention Facility, situated next to Bagram, include some “big names” from al Qaeda and the Taliban.
Both al Qaeda and Isis already have a foothold in the country.
Colonel Richard Kemp, who commanded British troops in Afghanistan, believes it would be a “betrayal” if those terror groups plan attacks on the West again from there.
Ex-serviceman Steve Roberts thinks we keep making the same mistakes.
His wife Pauline collapsed on a supermarket floor on learning that their son, corporal Andrew Roberts, 32, had been killed by enemy fire in Helmand in 2012.
Steve, 65, from Middlesbrough, says: “Nothing has changed. That’s the sadness.
“It’s a waste. Do we ever learn from our wars?”
Part of the 23 Pioneer Regiment, “larger than life” dad-of-three Andrew planned to leave the Army after his second tour of Afghanistan to start a new life with his girlfriend Paula Ewers. His dad adds: “Our lads over there are the heroes, but it’s the families who have to pick up the pieces when somebody dies.”
Also putting back together our shattered heroes are numerous charities supporting them in their struggle to heal the deep mental scars inflicted by the horrific conflict. Widow Jo Jukes, from Birmingham, now works with a charity called For The Fallen, which supports many families of servicemen and women who have taken their own lives.
Jo, 50, says: “David was in Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012, and it was his time there which really caused his downward spiral.
“He called me before he left, saying he didn’t think he could cope, that this was way worse than Iraq — something he thought he’d never say.
“And then just a few short months later he took his own life.”
Former Royal engineer Gary Weaving, 42, tried to commit suicide because he couldn’t rid himself of the terrible memories of what he witnessed in Afghanistan.
Remorseless revenge
The lance corporal says: “At night the stress still comes out. There are night terrors and re-enactments.
“I can’t sleep. The impact of my service, mentally and physically, will never leave me.”
He founded the charity Forgotten Heroes to offer mental health support specially tailored for our brave servicemen and women.
Gary says: “We have lost thousands of Allied troops out there for nothing.”
Gary, who helped construct Britain’s Camp Bastion base in 2006, which at one point housed 21,000 people and was busier than Luton airport, is fearful for the Afghans left behind to fend for themselves.
He recalls: “They were elated when we were there. They wanted us to keep their families safe. They just want basic amenities.
“I saw the people as very grateful. The local contractors I hired all bought me gifts when they left.”
Those locals who do stand up to the Taliban face remorseless revenge and the civil war will result in a refugee crisis.
But some veterans have not given up hope.
Paratrooper Stuart Hale, 39, who had his right leg amputated after it was injured in a Kajaki minefield, says: “I think the Afghans will carry on fighting.
“It will break down to the Taliban controlling the rural areas and the Afghan national forces will be more focused towards the cities and the towns.”
The former sergeant, who had set out to fire on a Taliban roadblock when he trod on an explosive device, says: “I have got no regrets apart from standing on the mine.”
Many of the relatives and veterans believe that al Qaeda’s terror attacks on New York on 9/11 was just cause for going into Afghanistan.
But they fear that by withdrawing now it will only lead to more bloodshed.
Widow Jo concludes: “Of course, we invaded Afghanistan with the right intentions, and at points it did feel like significant progress was made. This was a despicable and despotic, terrorist regime.
“But leaving the Taliban in full control again now not only means we’ve achieved nothing, it could actually strengthen their resolve.
“Retrospectively, I do think this news will make many families who’ve lost a son, husband, daughter or wife to this failed mission question if it was worth it.”
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