Following the Taliban movement, which has recently taken control of Afghanistan, the international community will first and foremost demand a guarantee that it will be possible to leave the country safely after 31 August, said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. According to the President of the European Council Charles Michel, states must not allow the creation of a new market for human smugglers.
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“Any future Afghan government must abide by Afghanistan’s international obligations. We will judge the Afghan parties by their actions, not by their words, “the group’s leaders said in a joint statement.
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There was still chaos at Kabul Airport on Tuesday. Read more:
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“The number one condition we set as the G7 is to guarantee the right to leave safely until and after August 31 for anyone who wants to leave,” said Johnson, who said the G7 had enough economic, diplomatic and political power to meet their demands. . Today, according to the AP agency, US President Joe Biden decided not to extend the presence of US troops at the airport in Kabul, from where people are evacuated from the country.
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For example, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said today that Madrid would probably not have time to evacuate all its citizens and other people at risk of repression in Afghanistan by that date.
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If they want to continue the occupation, it will provoke a reaction.
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Today, however, the AP agency, referring to a source from the US government, stated that President Joe Biden decided to meet the deadline on the recommendation of the Pentagon, which expressed concerns about the safety of soldiers. The Taliban had previously warned that changing the date would violate the agreement with the United States and that the continued stay of foreign troops would have consequences. “If they want to continue the occupation, it will provoke a reaction,” Taliban spokesman Suhajl Shahin said on Monday.
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The date of departure of US troops was apparently discussed in Kabul on Tuesday by the head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William Burns and the second most important man of the Islamist Taliban movement, Abdul Ghani Baradar. The Washington Post reported on their meeting, citing unnamed US officials.
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“We must not allow the creation of a new market for human smugglers. We are firmly determined to keep migration flows under control and protect the EU’s borders, “said Michel after a virtual G7 meeting, according to which the 27 EU intends to work with countries in the region, such as Iran, Pakistan and Central Asian states.
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The daily Le Figaro wrote that French security forces are monitoring five Afghans who were evacuated by France during repatriation and rescue flights from Kabul. They are suspected of links to the Taliban. According to the paper, one of the monitored men admitted his affiliation with this extremist Islamist movement. So far, France has removed more than 1,000 local associates and dozens of its own diplomats from Afghanistan.
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In connection with the approaching date of August 31, Western countries are accelerating the evacuation of their citizens and Afghans who could face repression in the country. Since Monday morning, Americans have taken about 12,700 people and other countries 8,900 people. Since last weekend, when the Taliban entered Kabul after taking control of the country, 58,700 people, mostly Afghans, who have worked with Western allies, have been removed from Kabul airport, according to the BBC.
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A Taliban spokesman today called on foreign governments not to encourage Afghans to leave. He added that the war in the country was over and that hospitals, schools and the local government were functioning again. The Taliban also appointed the first interim government officials on Tuesday, including the minister of interior, finance and education, as well as the head of intelligence, the governor of Kabul province and the mayor of the metropolis. These posts were filled by Taliban representatives, and the movement promised a multi-party government.
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A Taliban spokesman reiterated that the Taliban would not be the same as it ruled the country from 1996 to 2001, before being overthrown by a US-led operation following the 9/11 attacks on the United States. However, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said she had reports of human rights abuses by the Taliban, including extrajudicial executions of civilians, restrictions on women’s freedom of movement and the repression of peaceful protests against the Taliban.
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World Food Program (WFP) CEO David Beasley said 14 million Afghans were at risk of starving soon. According to him, the reason is a combination of a great drought, the covid-19 pandemic and armed conflict.
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The European Union has promised to increase humanitarian aid for Afghans, both at home and abroad, to EUR 200 million (CZK 5.1 billion), from around EUR 50 million planned so far. Assistance will be conditional on respect for human rights. Assistance to Afghan refugees has been promised, for example, by the American company Airbnb, which will provide free accommodation for 20,000 Afghan refugees in various countries. But the boss of the company Brian Chesky did not say how long it will be.
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