Dutch minister resigns due to chaos in Afghanistan

She is the first Western official to withdraw as a result of the chaos that took place after the Taliban militants took over Afghanistan on 15 August.

Dutch MPs adopted a censorship motion against her, saying the government was very slow in response and that it left behind many Afghans who had to flee.

Kaag said she stands behind her actions, but accepted the MP's decision.

The Netherlands managed to evacuate about 2,000 people from Afghanistan in the last two weeks of August.

But hundreds of Afghans who worked with Dutch troops were left there.

Afghans who have worked with international forces over the past 20 years are threatened by Taliban.

Western countries have withdrawn thousands from Afghanistan, but a large number remain there.

Kaag acknowledged that the Dutch government has acted on the basis of the wrong “suppossions”, but said the rapid rise of the ruling Taliban has surprised all, “including the Taliban themselves”.

This week, United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who was highly criticised for continuing the break after Kabul fell into the hands of militants, was replaced in a cabinet reshuffle.