Boris Johnson today insisted UK forces can be 'proud' of their 'achievements' in Afghanistan - as Keir Starmer called for those involved in the Kabul airlift to get medals.
Addressing the Commons, the PM said the 20-year campaign in the country had meant millions of women were education and protected the West from terrorist attacks.
He said Britain was still demanding that those who want to leave Afghanistan are granted 'safe passage' and the rights of women are 'respected'.
Sir Keir also heaped praise on the 'remarkable' efforts to troops in the evacuation from Kabul, and urged ministers to waive the 30-day deployment threshold so that their contribution can be 'recognised' with medals.
Mr Johnson told MPs: 'On Saturday, we shall mark the 20th anniversary of the reason why we went into Afghanistan in the first place: the terrorist attacks on the United States which claimed 2,977 lives including those of 67 Britons.
'If anyone is tempted to say that we have achieved nothing in that country – or still tempted to say that we have achieved nothing in that country in 20 years – tell them that our armed forces and those of our allies enabled 3.6 million girls to go to school, tell them that this country and the western world were protected from al Qaida in Afghanistan throughout that period, and tell them that we have just mounted the biggest humanitarian airlift in recent history.'
He added: 'There are very few countries which have the military capability to do what we have just done, and fewer still that would have felt the moral imperative to act in the same way. We can be proud of our armed forces and everything that they have achieved and for the legacy they leave behind, and what they did was in the best traditions of this country.'
Addressing the Commons, the PM said the 20-year campaign in the country had meant millions of women were education and protected the West from terrorist attacks
Sir Keir Starmer heaped praise on the 'remarkable' efforts to troops in the evacuation from Kabul (pictured), and urged ministers to waive the 30-day deployment threshold so that their contribution can be 'recognised' with medals
Mr Johnson insisted UK forces can be 'proud' of their 'achievements' in Afghanistan (pictured)
Mr Johnson said the UK will do 'everything possible' to help Afghans and others entitled to resettle in the UK.
'Let me say to anyone who we've made commitments to and who is currently in Afghanistan: we are working urgently with our friends in the region to secure safe passage and as soon as routes are available we will do everything possible to help you to reach safety,' he said.
Sir Keir called for British troops to receive a medal for their 'remarkable' efforts via Operation Pitting to evacuate thousands of people from Afghanistan.
He told the Commons: 'Your service deserves recognition and honour and I hope the Prime Minister will accept Labour's proposal to scrap the 30-day continuous
