Dominic Raab seems to contradict PM by saying Taliban takeover was surprise

Foreign secretary says Afghanistan's fall came faster than anyone anticipated' during Islamabad visit

Dominic Raab has said there was widespread surprise including among the Taliban at the speed with which the group swept to military victory in Afghanistan, but the UK now wanted direct communication with the militants.

Raab was speaking after holding talks with officials in Pakistan, the country with the greatest sway over the Taliban. It was his first visit to Islamabad as foreign secretary, and follows criticism that he had not engaged with the Pakistan foreign policy elite in the six months prior to the crisis erupting.