Taliban Take Over Afghanistan, Prince Harry Calls On Veterans To Support One Another

Prince Harry illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Sgt. Laura Buchta)

JAKARTA - Britain's Prince Harry has spoken out about the fall of Kabul and the majority of Afghanistan to the Taliban, allowing them to regain power they seized in 2001.

The Taliban managed to enter Kabul and occupied the presidential palace on Sunday, August 15 last, forcing President Ashraf Ghani to flee and foreign countries to evacuate diplomatic staff, foreign missions to their civilians from Afghanistan.

Quoting The Argus Tuesday 17 August, The Duke of Sussex encouraged veterans to offer support to one another, following the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

In his capacity as founder of the Invictus Games Foundation, Prince Harry said the situation in Afghanistan resonated with former soldiers.

The Invictus Games, which first took place in 2014 at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, help soldiers through their recovery through international sporting competitions.

Prince Harry himself is known to have spent ten years in the army, including two assignments on Afghan frontline missions.

Amid the Taliban's struggle for power in Afghanistan, two weeks before the United States will complete its troop withdrawal, Prince Harry issued a joint statement with senior figures from The Invictus Games.

"What happened in Afghanistan resonates throughout the international Invictus community. Many of the participating countries and competitors in the Invictus Games family are bound by the shared experience of serving in Afghanistan over the past two decades, and for several years, we have competed with the Invictus Games Afghanistan Team," it reads. the statement.

"We encourage everyone across the Invictus network and the wider military community to reach out and offer support to one another."

The Invictus Games have been postponed for the second year in a row due to COVID-19, with the next competition to be held in The Hague, Netherlands, in 2022.

Organizers are considering hosting the event for sick, injured and injured veterans and serving in the military later in the year, digitally, but want to preserve the experience for competitors and give them reassurance.

Harry was inspired to create a sports tournament after attending the Warrior Games in Colorado, USA in 2013, where he saw how injured military personnel thrive on the challenge of taking part in competitive sports that aid their recovery.

Last June, Prince Harry condemned the attack that killed 10 members of The HALO Trust (Hazardous Area Life Support Organization), by armed groups at a mine clearing camp in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, 16 other people from the organization were injured.

"I honor those who have gone missing and encourage support for the survivors and their affected families. These workers are risking their lives every day to make the world a safer place. This brutal act reminds us that we must stand in solidarity with workers. humanitarian aid and the communities they serve," he said, citing People.

To note, Prince Harry passed his regular board of commissioners, a qualification required to train at Sandhurst, in September 2004. After completing a period of work experience, Harry entered the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in May 2005 to begin his training as an officer cadet.

During the 44-week training course, Harry became known as Officer Cadet Wales. In January 2006, Clarence House announced that Harry would be joining the Blues and Royals.

After successfully completing his troop leader course, he was commissioned as a military officer in April 2006. In 2008, the Ministry of Defense confirmed Prince Harry had served with the British Army in Helmand, Afghanistan, for more than two months.

Later that year, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant with The Household Cavalry, before being promoted to captain.