British Defense Minister Ben Wallace expressed concern on Friday that Afghanistan is on its way to becoming a failed state and a fertile ground for extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda, warning of the organization's potential return. In a response to a question about Afghanistan on Sky News, Wallace stated, "I am very worried that failed states represent fertile ground for people like this... Al-Qaeda will likely return."
He noted that Kandahar, Afghanistan's second-largest city, and Lashkar Gah have "probably now fallen into the hands of the Taliban." In another interview, Wallace indicated that Britain could return to Afghanistan if it starts hosting Al-Qaeda in a way that threatens the West. When asked about the possibility of sending British troops back to Afghanistan, Wallace told LBC Radio, "I will leave all options on the table. If I have a message for the Taliban from last time, it would be: If you start hosting Al-Qaeda and attacking the West or other countries, we will come back."
In a related context, Wallace mentioned in an interview with the BBC that Afghanistan is heading towards a civil war and that the West must understand that the Taliban is not a single entity but rather a term for many competing interests. He added, "Britain discovered in the 1830s that it (Afghanistan) is a country run by warlords and led by different regions and tribes, and unless you are very careful, you will end up with a civil war, and I believe we are heading towards a civil war."
