George W Bush says he fears for women once US and Nato troops leave Afghanistan

US president George W Bush, left and Afghan president Hamid Karzai in 2006 (Charles Dharapak/AP)

Former US president George W Bush has criticised the Western withdrawal from Afghanistan in an interview with a German broadcaster, saying he fears that Afghan women and girls will “suffer unspeakable harm”.

Asked in an interview with German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle whether the withdrawal is a mistake, Mr Bush replied: “You know, I think it is, yeah, because I think the consequences are going to be unbelievably bad.”