BORIS Johnson will chair the third emergency COBRA meeting on Afghanistan this afternoon after cutting short his summer holiday.

The PM returned to Downing St on Sunday to take charge of Britain's response to the Taliban's terrifying takeover of the war-torn country.

No10 sources insisted he "kept in touch" and made calls with officials during his brief one-day Saturday staycation.

Mr Johnson was due to take the whole week off but will stay in London until at least Wednesday to lead the debate on Afghanistan in Parliament.

MPs have been recalled from the Commons summer recess to discuss the deteriorating situation in the country.

Taliban fighters have captured the capital of Kabul and stormed the Presidential Palace, forcing President Ghani to flee abroad.

British troops are at the airport evacuating remaining embassy staff and Afghan citizens who have helped our mission over the years.

It comes as:

• Taliban stormed Afghanistan’s Presidential Palace after ripping through Kabul
• Boris Johnson blamed the US for Afghanistan’s ‘accelerated’ collapse to the Taliban
• Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said he fled to ‘prevent a flood of bloodshed’
• UK ambassador Sir Laurie Bristow to remain at Kabul airport to help Brits leave

Today's will be the third COBRA meeting since Friday, underscoring the seriousness of the catastrophe in Afghanistan.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has scrambled back after jetting off on an overseas retreat. He was seen entering Downing St this afternoon.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace this morning insisted both Mr Johnson and Mr Raab have been at the forefront of the British response.

But the Foreign Sec has come under fire – even from Tory MPs – for only being in Westminster today.

Tom Tugendhat, chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee, said he was "astonished" at the lack of urgency.

He told Times Radio: "The prime minister is looking for staff to watch his back and maybe he will choose somebody who isn't on holiday."

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