KABUL: The United Kingdom (UK) is in talks with the Taliban to secure safe passage out of Afghanistan for a number of British nationals and Afghans who remain there, BBC has reported.

The talks, involving UK officials and “senior” Taliban members, are taking place in Doha, Qatar, No 10 said.

The Defense Secretary is understood to have told MPs that between 150-250 people eligible for relocation – plus their families – remain in the country, according to BBC.

It comes after a Taliban pledge to allow further departures.

Commenting on the UK-Taliban negotiations, a No 10 spokesman said: “The prime minister’s special representative for Afghan transition, Simon Gass, has travelled to Doha and is meeting with senior Taliban representatives to underline the importance of safe passage out of Afghanistan for British nationals, and those Afghans who have worked with us over the past 20 years.”

On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said more than 17,000 people had been evacuated by the UK from Afghanistan so far, including over 5,000 UK nationals, the report added.

He also said the UK needed to face the changing situation in Afghanistan and work with other nations to exercise a “moderating influence” on the Taliban.

Former British ambassador to Afghanistan between 2010 and 2012 Sir William Patey said engaging with the Taliban could help prevent a refugee crisis and avoid the country becoming a host for terrorists.

“If the Taliban are going to run a government and hold onto power as they want to do, they’re going to have to engage as well. So we have some cards.”

(With inputs from BBC)