In an interview former White House security boss during Donald Trump's presidency John Bolton was quoted as saying by The Mirror there were fears the regime would claim the devastating weapons from neighbouring Pakistan.

The evacuation of Kabul saw 165 flights remove more than 15,000 people in just a fortnight – with the 16 Air Assault Brigade at the forefront of Operation Pitting which involved more than 1,000 personnel, the newspaper reported.

In an interview with WABC 770, he said: "The Taliban in control of Afghanistan threatens the possibility of terrorists taking control of Pakistan too."

"That means maybe 150 nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorists which is a real threat to us and our friends," he said.