Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide (H) says that their highest priority now is to get posted and local employees out of Kabul.
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– It is currently not clear who will lead the Afghan government in Kabul. We may be facing a government vacuum and it is a serious situation, says Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide during a press conference about the situation in Afghanistan on Sunday night.
On Friday, Norway evacuated the embassy in Kabul, while the Armed Forces personnel remained. The embassy is closed and no longer staffed, says Søreide.
“We are now working hard to get our expatriates and our local employees with their families out of Kabul,” said the Foreign Minister.
The employees are out of the embassy, and are staying elsewhere, according to the foreign minister.
Søreide has been in contact with Norway’s employees in Kabul on Sunday afternoon.
– I am keen to convey very clearly that they are our highest priority now. And I emphasize that we take responsibility for our local employees and their families, and of course also that they are brought to Norway, says Søreide.
Søreide says they do not want to provide specific information about when and how the evacuation takes place, because they do not want to do anything that could endanger the evacuation work.
EVACUATION: Foreign Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide is concerned about the situation in Afghanistan, and work is now underway to evacuate Norwegian employees from the country. Photo: Thomas Nilsson / VG
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– Most countries are in the process of trying to evacuate, and there is a lot of pressure on both logistics and security. It is an unusually demanding and difficult job, says the Foreign Minister.
On Sunday, the Taliban entered the Afghan capital, Kabul, and The Taliban told Reuters on Sunday night that they had taken over the Afghan presidential palace. This has not been confirmed by the Afghan authorities.
Non-violent transfer of power
Two Taliban representatives has said there will be no transitional government in the country. The group expects a full transfer of power.
Søreide describes the situation in the Afghan capital Kabul as very serious and confusing, and says that we are now witnessing violent political upheavals at a pace no one had imagined.
– We are concerned about the human rights situation in the country, and especially with regard to the situation for girls and women in Afghanistan. We will continue our work with parties that promote democracy and human rights in the country.
Søreide says it is crucial to ensure a non-violent transfer of power, which can ensure stability.
Diplomatic talks are now under way in Kabul and Doha, where Qatar, the United States and Pakistan play important roles. Norway also has representatives in Doha to participate in the talks.
– It is too early to say whether we can succeed in achieving a transitional solution, or what this will look like, says Søreide.
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