British soldier who lost both legs in Afghanistan says sacrifice was not worth it

Former British soldier Jack Cummings lost both of his legs while serving in Afghanistan, where he was tasked with hunting for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on the frontline. Two of his close friends were killed during the conflict. Cummings' injuries and the deaths of his comrades occurred during the British military's involvement in Afghanistan, which lasted from 2001 to 2014, with a residual force until 2021. The Western pullout and the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021 marked the end of the two-decade war. Cummings, reflecting on the fifth anniversary of the Taliban's return to power, expressed heartbreak over the freedoms that have been snatched back from Afghan women and children. He believes that the sacrifice of over 450 British troops who died in Afghanistan, as well as his own life-altering injuries, were not worth it, given the subsequent rollback of rights and the Taliban's resurgence. The anniversary of the Taliban takeover is a somber moment for veterans and families of the fallen, as they grapple with the outcomes of the war and the legacy of their service.