As the final date for the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan approaches, France and the United Kingdom propose to establish a safe zone in Kabul for those who wish to leave the country. The US government has decided to postpone the recognition of the Taliban government. Russia has emphasized the need to establish relations with the new Afghan government.
The Washington Post quoted officials as saying that US President Joe Biden plans to withdraw the country’s ambassadors and diplomats from Kabul by next Tuesday.
The newspaper added that it may take some time for the Biden government to recognize the Taliban government’s decision.
On the other hand, Russian President Putin’s special envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, emphasized that Russia should establish relations with the new Afghan government and pointed out that Russia has been working hard for this for 8 years.
The “Russia Today” news site Arabic channel quoted Kabulov as saying: “The Taliban movement is a fait accompli. We will have to establish relations with this new situation and the new Afghan government.”
The Russian President’s special envoy added that Russia is quite satisfied with the changes in Afghanistan because it has been in contact with the Taliban for eight years. Frankly speaking, these rapid changes have not had a significant impact on Russia.
Kabulov said that Russia is worried that Western pressure on the Taliban will lead to extremism.
The Taliban movement currently controls all land border crossings in Afghanistan, and the foreign and Afghan employees working with them are evacuated through the Kabul Airport, which was still controlled by NATO forces before they left on August 31.
Safety Zone
In this context, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that “France and the United Kingdom will present a bill at the UN emergency meeting on Afghanistan next Monday, proposing the establishment of a safe zone in Kabul for people who wish to leave the country. .”
In an interview with the newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche, Macron emphasized that the purpose of his bill is to designate a safe area in Kabul under the authorization of the United Nations to continue humanitarian operations.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is holding a meeting with representatives of the five permanent members of the Security Council, Britain, France, the United States, China, and Russia, on the issue of Afghanistan.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that if the Taliban cannot provide a safe passage for British and Afghans to travel to neighboring countries, Britain will impose sanctions on the Taliban.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed that it is necessary to provide international assistance, and the Group of Seven nations will adopt a common position on the future government that will take over the affairs of Afghanistan.
Johnson’s office said in a statement: “The Prime Minister and the Chancellor of Finance have decided to work with other G7 members to develop a roadmap for any new government in Afghanistan, which was discussed at the leaders’ meeting last week.”
The statement added that the Prime Minister emphasized that any recognition of the Taliban movement and any transaction with it must be conditional on allowing safe passage for those who want to leave the country and respect for human rights.
(Al Jazeera)U.S. responsibility
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei blamed the United States for the current conflict in Afghanistan.
In a speech on Saturday, Khamenei said in his first meeting with the new cabinet led by President Ibrahim Leahy, “The administration of US President Joe Biden is no different from its predecessor.”
The Supreme Leader of Iran added that the root of the Afghan crisis is the United States, which has committed various forms of atrocities during the 20-year occupation.
When talking about how Iran will deal with the new government led by the Taliban in Kabul, Khamenei said it depends on the “nature of the relationship” between the new government and Iran.
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