After a 20-year occupation by Western forces that saw 457 British lives lost and £22billion spent, the insurgents took the capital Kabul after routing Afghan forces in just a week.
A total of 457 British service personnel died in the 20-year conflict in Afghanistan. Now the mothers of those killed have revealed their heartache at seeing the Taliban seize back control.
MAJOR GENERAL CHARLIE HERBERT: The regions in Afghanistan that British troops fought, bled and died for have been surrendered to Taliban control. It is the West s worst military humiliation.