Following news that the Taliban had taken control of Afghanistan as the US withdrew troops from the country, Prince Harry, the CEO of the Invictus Games, and Lord Allen of Kensington CBE, the chair of the Invictus Games Foundation, issued a joint statement encouraging military veterans to “reach out to each other and offer support for one another.”

The message, which was published on the Invictus Games’ Twitter, reads, “What’s happening in Afghanistan resonates across the international Invictus community. Many of the participating nations and competitors in the Invictus Games family are bound by a shared experience of serving in Afghanistan over the past two decades, and for several years, we have competed alongside Invictus Games Team Afghanistan.”

“We encourage everybody across the Invictus network – and the wider military community – to reach out to each other and offer support for one another.”

Harry has previously stated that his stint in the army provided him with some of the greatest days of his life, stating,  “The happiest times in my life was the 10 years in the army. I got to wear the same uniform as everybody else. I had to do all the same training as everybody else.”

Prince Harry completed two deployments in Afghanistan while in the British Army. He served in the army for ten years and reached to the rank of Captain, according to the royal family’s website. Prince Harry’s work continues to focus on issues affecting veterans and military families.

In 2013, he testified about his experiences as an Army helicopter pilot in Afghanistan, when he shot at Taliban militants, and the following year, he created the Invictus Games, an international tournament for injured ex-service personnel.

“The Games harness the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for those who serve their country,” reads the Games’ website.

Because of the coronavirus epidemic, the Invictus Games have been canceled for the last two years; nevertheless, organizers are optimistic that the 2022 edition will take place in The Hague, Netherlands.

The Taliban have gained control of Afghanistan for the first time in 20 years in the last few days, as the US force continues to depart. The terrorist organization has taken control of key towns, prompting many people, including Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, to flee the country.

Thousands of Afghans are attempting to escape the nation, many fearing the return of the Taliban’s harsh Islamic law, which they used to control Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.

On Tuesday, Harry and Meghan Markle issued a joint statement through their Archewell Foundation about the crisis in Afghanistan, Haiti’s earthquake and tropical storm, and the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic.

“As we all feel the many layers of pain due to the situation in Afghanistan, we are left speechless,” the pair said in a statement. “When any person or community suffers, a piece of each of us does so with them, whether we realize it or not.”