Afghanistan: former Chevening scholars accuse UK of abandoning them

Government has prioritised rescue of current scholars but estimated 70 alumni are still in country

A group of former Chevening scholars have accused the British government of abandoning them in Afghanistan, where they say their lives are at grave risk from the Taliban.

The UK government has prioritised the rescue of 35 current Chevening scholars who were due to embark on their studies in the UK before the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, but an estimated 70 former scholars are also thought to still be in the country.