Boris Johnson has faced a barrage of criticism from MPs over the UK's role in Afghanistan, in an emergency House of Commons debate on the crisis.
His predecessor as PM Theresa May said it was "incomprehensible" the UK was not doing more to maintain a presence, while ex-minister Johnny Mercer demanded more help for veterans.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused Mr Johnson of "staggering complacency".
But Mr Johnson argued Nato's "core mission" in Afghanistan had succeeded.
Addressing a packed Commons, he said the country had been largely cleared of al-Qaeda terrorists, while the population had enjoyed better education, women's rights and free elections since the 2001 invasion.
But Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat, who chairs the Commons foreign affairs committee and himself served in Afghanistan, said it had been "shameful" of US President Joe Biden to question the willingness of the Afghan army to fight the Taliban.
And, in an emotional speech that was heard in silence, he told of grief and rage felt by veterans at the "abandonment" of Afghanistan.
UK troops ceased combat operations in 2014 and most of those who remained, primarily to help train the Afghan army, left last month.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58254794