The head of Kent Afghan Community says he fears for his family's life as the Taliban tightens its control in Afghanistan.

Mohammad Tawasooli is part of the charity based in Rochester which provides facilities, open spaces, advice and information for Afghan people in Kent.

Mr Tawasooli lives in Maidstone with his wife and children but his parents, siblings, nieces and nephews are still in Afghanistan.

Since US and British forces pulled out after 20 years, the Taliban has retaken large swathes of the country.

It has made it difficult for Mr Tawasooli to keep in contact with his loved ones and he fears they are no longer safe.

He said: "My brother lives in Helmand province and unfortunately there was fighting for about 20 days and his house was hit by a rocket but he was lucky and was not injured.

"His children fled to Kabul and they are refugees there at the moment. My parents and my other little brother live in Ghazni province and they are not safe either.

"Unfortunately the phone is not working properly there and I don't know what is going on.

"Another brother is a head teacher of a secondary school and I don't know what the Taliban want to do with him and I'm worried.

"People are really worried because the Taliban law is very extreme and in the last 20 years the people have had their freedom and democracy, and now the Taliban has taken it."

There have been reports of women being turned away from universities and offices, while the visa system for study in the UK has been paused.

The Taliban also supported punishments based on their strict interpretation of Sharia law such as public executions of murderers and adulterers and amputations for those guilty of theft.

Men are also required to grow beards and women must wear burkas.

Boris Johnson is preparing to announce a bespoke resettlement scheme for the most vulnerable Afghans.

Mr Tawasooli said he hopes the Prime Minister will listen to the people of Afghanistan and help UK citizens like himself bring their families to safety.

He added: "We are worried again there is going to be a civil war as the president of America said they have nothing to do with Afghanistan because they're done after 20 years and the Taliban are just doing what they want with nobody to stop them.

"My niece says she is scared to go outside because maybe the Taliban will take her and ask her to get married. Unfortunately the leaders of Afghanistan are not looking out for the people, only themselves.

Kent MP and ex-soldier urges UK to protect refugees fleeing the Taliban

"We're really thankful about the past, what the UK government did for the people of Afghanistan, and we hope they hear our voice because all of them are asking for the world's help."

He added: "My family have done everything for me, if I can do something for them that's going to be good. But is it going to be possible? I don't know, it depends if Boris Johnson hears our voice.

"I am living and working here, and I have my own kids here, but my mind is in Afghanistan right now."

Ashford council says it is preparing to take in families fleeing Afghanistan – and the leader has strong words for those who disagree.

Conservative leader Cllr Gerry Clarkson has confirmed the authority has already approached the Home Office offering to assist and provide housing and support for Afghan families.

He said the authority would use its experience of helping Syrian refugees to ensure families were well supported and the council would be appealing to private landlords to provide appropriate accommodation.

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