British Afghanistan war veterans speak out about the conflict 25 years after the September 11, 2001 attacks that led to the war in Afghanistan. In their comments, they say they believe some of the sacrifices made by service members were not justified by the outcome, framing their reflections as a sense of “pointlessness” regarding the loss of friends and colleagues.

The outlet reporting the veterans’ views highlights the emotional impact of long-term consequences and years of debate over the war’s purpose and results. While the report focuses on veterans who express regret and criticism of the campaign, it reflects a perspective rooted in personal experience and service history rather than a government assessment. The account centers on what these veterans say they feel in retrospect, rather than on specific policy decisions or the broader set of assessments from officials, analysts, or other stakeholders.

Overall, the story presents veterans’ retrospective criticism as the central angle, situating it within the wider anniversary context of 9/11 and the subsequent Afghanistan intervention.