BRITISH troops could be brought back from Afghanistan in the next few days.

Members of Colchester’s 16 Air Assault Brigade have been working on the frontline evacuation mission to ensure British nationals and Afghans who worked for British forces get to safety following the country’s takeover by the Taliban.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said 9,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan since August 15.

He said the UK evacuation effort in Afghanistan is working towards the end of August, but time will also be taken to withdraw the military operation.

Asked about suggestions the withdrawal could begin within 24 to 48 hours, Mr Raab said: “I’m not going to give the precise timeline.

“We will work to the end of August, but we will take back from that, you step back from that, the time that we need to withdraw our military operation.”

Read more >> Frightened families fleeing Afghanistan to be given refuge in Colchester hotel

Gazette: Handout photo issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the UK Armed Forces who continue to take part in the evacuation of entitled personnel from Kabul airport. Issue date: Monday August 23, 2021. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said the Kabul

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has offered a glimmer of hope to former Royal Marine Paul Farthing, from Dovercourt, who is seeking to secure the passage of 200 dogs and cats alongside his animal shelter staff out of Afghanistan.

Mr Farthing founded the Nowzad shelter in Kabul after serving with the British Army in Afghanistan in the mid-2000s, with the organisation rescuing dogs, cats and donkeys.

Since the collapse of the Afghan government, he has campaigned to have his staff and their families as well as 140 dogs and 60 cats evacuated from the country, in a plan he has dubbed Operation Ark.

Gazette: EDITORS NOTE IMAGE BLURRED AT SOURCE Handout photo issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of a member of the UK Armed Forces, who continue to take part in the evacuation of entitled personnel, carrying a child at Kabul airport. Issue date: Monday August

Nowzad supporters announced a privately-chartered Airbus A330 – funded by donations – was on standby to fly to Kabul to rescue the group’s workers and animals.

Mr Wallace had insisted the animals would have to wait behind since the UK would prioritise the evacuation of people aboard RAF flights out of Kabul.

Gazette: EDITORS NOTE IMAGE BLURRED AT SOURCE Handout photo issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of members of the UK Armed Forces who continue to take part in the evacuation of entitled personnel from Kabul airport. Issue date: Monday August 23, 2021. Defence

However, in a series of tweets yesterday, Mr Wallace said if Mr Farthing arrived at the airport with his staff and animals, officials would seek to facilitate their departure aboard the chartered aircraft.

“Now that Pen Farthing’s staff have been cleared to come forward under LOTR, I have authorised MoD to facilitate their processing alongside all other eligible personnel. At that stage, if he arrives with his animals we will seek a slot for his plane,” Mr Wallace tweeted.