Widow of Bradford soldier killed in Afghanistan writes to Boris Johnson

Sergeant Peter Rayner, of Odsal, nicknamed ‘Skippy’, from 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, was killed while serving in Afghanistan in October 2010.

He was killed when he was struck by an improvised explosive device while leading his men on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.

Sergeant Peter Rayner, killed in Afghanistan in 2010

Now his widow, Wendy Rayner, has written to Mr Johnson as British troops are racing against the clock to get remaining UK nationals and their local allies out of Afghanistan following the dramatic fall of the country’s Western-backed government to the Taliban. MPs will be back at Westminster tomorrow in an emergency recall of Parliament to debate the crisis.

In her email to Mr Johnson, Mrs Rayner, of Woodside, said: “I am outraged and appalled by what’s happening in Afghanistan.

“I feel the talks held with the terrorist group, the Taliban, failed. Proof is now to be seen.

“My husband died to protect us here in the UK, to help the civilians of Afghanistan have a better lifestyle. Everything our troops thought they had done for the good of humanity, now rubbed in their faces. In the faces of bereaved families, and Afghan civilians and families all over the world.

“This is a massive humanitarian crisis, as to send troops back in will be a harder war.

“I want to hold our government accountable for their actions of sending our troops into Afghanistan in the first place. Can you justify to me the actions of madness?

“Afghans were better off before we intervened, now thousands will be slaughtered because of ignorance and war mongering.”

She added: “I’m really, really angry. It’s an insult to his memory and everyone’s memory.

It’s just sit back and watch for now. It breaks your heart, it’s gut-wrenching

“He did a job he loved and thought he was doing the right thing.”

Afghanistan has been overrun by Taliban fighters and the country’s government collapsed within days of the withdrawal of US forces.

A scramble is under way at Kabul Airport to evacuate nationals from Western countries and Afghans who helped them, amid fears of reprisals from the Taliban.

Following a meeting of the Government’s Cobra emergencies committee, Mr Johnson said his priority was to get UK nationals and Afghans who had worked with them out of the country “as fast as we can”.

“We are going to get as many as we can out in the next few days,” he said.

Meanwhile, the father of a Bradford teenager killed in Afghanistan says the UK has a moral duty to continue to help the people of the country.

Private Christopher Kershaw, who died in Afghanistan in 2012

Private Christopher Kershaw, 19, was one of six soldiers who died when their armoured car was blown up in southern Afghanistan in March 2012.

Pte Kershaw, a former pupil of Hanson School in Swain House, is buried in Idle, where he spent most of his teenage years.

His father Brian Kershaw said: "It's upsetting for every family that's lost somebody in the past.

"You've also got to feel for the families of the lads who are joining the army now.

"I personally think we have a moral duty to help.

I feel sorry for everyone in Afghanistan, what's going to happen to them now? Especially the women and kids and anyone who have spoken out against the Taliban

"It never gets easier. There are always the anniversaries.

"I think about the lads coming back from Afghanistan and what they saw.

"Christopher always told me he knew what he was doing. It was his decision. He wanted to be in the army.

"It was his first deployment and he was two months shy of his 20th birthday.

"It's hard for every family. Not just those who have lost husbands, brothers."

Pressure has been mounting on the UK Government over the withdrawal of troops from the country, and Parliament will be recalled on Wednesday so MPs can discuss the crisis.

The PM's official spokesman said he recognised it would be an "extremely difficult time" for those who had been involved in the conflict.

Asked if Mr Johnson would apologise, he said: "Look, I fully understand that this must be an extremely difficult time for service personnel who served in Afghanistan and indeed the families of those who lost loved ones.

"As the PM has said, the UK can be proud of what has been done in Afghanistan over the past 20 years. It is thanks to their sacrifices that we've seen now no al Qaida attacks against the West for a very long time, there are millions of girls and young women who have been educated in Afghanistan, and that cannot be taken away."