The EU contemplates the presence of Kabul and establishes the conditions for the “ operational commitment ” with the Taliban
EU countries on Friday set their conditions for stepping up engagement with the Taliban, agreeing to establish a joint “presence” in Kabul to aid exits if security permits.
“We have to commit to the new government in Afghanistan, which does not mean recognition, it is an operational commitment,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said after a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers in Slovenia. .
“This operational commitment will increase depending on the behavior of this government.”
He presented a series of “benchmarks” that the new authorities would have to meet as the Taliban prepare to announce a new government after taking power.
These included Afghanistan not serving as a base for terrorism, respecting the rights of women and the media, establishing an “inclusive and representative” government and allowing access to aid.
In addition, he said the Taliban must live up to their commitment to allow foreign nationals and Afghans at “risk” to leave after US-led evacuations ended in late August.
Borrell said that the EU countries agreed to establish a joint presence in Kabul, security permitting, to deal with the Taliban and ensure the departure of Afghans that the bloc was unable to leave the country.
EU diplomats have left Afghanistan for neighboring countries or to return to their countries of origin.
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On humanitarian aid, Borrell said that the EU will seek to intensify its aid to the Afghan people, but that it will judge the authorities “according to the access they provide.”
The EU is also looking to strengthen coordination with Afghanistan’s neighbors as it seeks to prevent a large-scale flow of migrants from the country to Europe.
Borrell said the bloc will seek to establish a “regional political platform” with countries around Afghanistan to help stabilize the situation.
(AFP)
