Officials said that EU foreign ministers will hold emergency talks on the situation in Afghanistan via a video link on Tuesday (August 17) as European countries scramble to evacuate people from the country.
Fearing reprisals after the Taliban took over, member states and EU executives in Brussels are frantically trying to withdraw their foreign and Afghan staff from Kabul.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel described the Taliban’s return to power as “particularly dramatic and terrifying.”
“For the millions of Afghans who have worked for a freer society and focused on democracy, education and women’s rights with the support of Western communities, this is terrible,” she said.
She said this is also devastating for the relatives of soldiers who gave their lives in NATO operations.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that Afghanistan should not once again become a “shelter of terrorism” until after a US-led invasion 20 years ago and the Taliban regained control of the country.
“This is the key to international security and peace… We will do everything we can to make Russia, the United States and Europe cooperate effectively because our interests are aligned,” Macron said in a televised speech at his summer residence.
He described this situation as a “major challenge to our own security” and a “common enemy in the fight against terrorism.”
“Our actions are primarily aimed at actively combating all forms of Islamic terrorism,” Macron said.
He said that the European Union will launch an initiative to stop the current expected influx of immigrants from the country and crack down on possible illegal population smuggling groups.
France, Germany and other EU countries will adopt “strong, coordinated and united” response measures to prevent irregular immigration by unifying standards and showing European solidarity.
He said: “We must foresee and protect ourselves from major irregular migration flows that may endanger migration and encourage various risks of trafficking.”
EU Foreign Policy Director Josep Borrell said on Twitter: “Based on the latest developments in Afghanistan, and after close contact with partners in the past few days and hours, I decided to hold a special event tomorrow afternoon. The European Union’s Foreign Minister VTC (Video Conference Call) conducts the first evaluation.” Monday.
“Afghanistan stands at a crossroads. The safety and well-being of its citizens and international security are at play.”
European diplomats said that EU officials have been begging the 27 capitals of the EU to issue visas to Afghan workers and their families who are performing EU missions in Kabul. The estimated number is about 500. The European Commission is not authorized to issue visas on its own behalf.
Diplomats said that member states now seem to be committed to providing sufficient visas to cover EU staff, including local Afghan employees, but the question is how to get them to leave the country in the chaotic airport situation.
Individual European countries are also scrambling to let their nationals and Afghan employees take off, as crowds flooded into Kabul Airport and frantically boarded the plane that was about to take off.
The Pentagon stated that all military and civilian flights were grounded at the airport due to the influx of civilians on the runway.
“The U.S. military is working with Turkey and other international forces to clean up the personnel area at the scene. We don’t know how long this will take,” spokesman John Kirby said.
