Government braced for home terror attacks following Taliban return to power - security expert

A Security Studies academic at Birmingham City University has suggested the UK Government will now be preparing for terror attacks on home soil, following the Taliban 's return to power in Afghanistan.

Dr Lily Hamourtziadou, Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Security Studies at the University, said the Taliban are likely to explore alliances with China, Pakistan and Russia, following the withdrawal of US troops in the Central and South Asia state.

Dr Hamourtziadou (pictured) said: “The war in Afghanistan, now nearly 20 years old, has so far cost the lives of over 71,300 civilians, according to Brown University 's Costs of War project. Afghanistan was the first casualty of the War on Terror declared by US President George W. Bush in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in America. Civilians have died as a result of violence perpetrated by Taliban fighters, international forces and successive governments of Afghanistan. They include thousands of children.

“Meanwhile, Afghanistan 's brutal Taliban regime was removed and the country became a democracy - until yesterday. ”

“The Taliban 's return to power signals the end of any hope of a viable democracy for the Afghans, the defeat of the West, the start of new alliances between the Taliban and China, Pakistan and Russia, the strengthening of terrorist groups and the return to human rights abuses the Taliban were famous for.

“The UK government 's possible response is now limited to tightening security at home, in the event of a new terror attack, and remote warfare using drones, if or when UK interests are threatened.

“The conflict in Afghanistan never ended, but this new development plunges the country into further depths of oppression, violence and human rights abuses. As civilians try to flee the country, another humanitarian crisis spills over the border to the region and to the rest of the world. ”