NATO asks Taliban to allow evacuations

Jens Stoltenberg - NATOPhoto: AP Photo / Virginia Mayo, Pool, File

NATO is asking the Taliban to allow evacuations from Afghanistan. It is also calling for closer cooperation between allies.

“We ask that those in power in Afghanistan respect and facilitate safe and orderly departures, including at the airport,” NATO Foreign Ministers stated after an extraordinary online meeting on the situation in Afghanistan on Friday.

The situation in the country and at the airport in Kabul is very confusing and chaotic after the Taliban took over the capital last weekend.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called on the Allies to stand together.

“North America and Europe must continue to stand together in NATO. The current situation in Afghanistan does not change this,” Stoltenberg said at a press conference on Friday after the extraordinary meeting.

Review needed

Stoltenberg announced that he would initiate a review of the efforts in Afghanistan.

“There are tough questions we have to ask ourselves about the efforts in Afghanistan. We were aware of the risks of pulling out forces. But the speed and collapse of Afghan political and military leadership and the armed forces were unpredictable,” he said.

“There are many things we must learn from, and I will initiate a comprehensive review of the efforts in Afghanistan,” he continued.

All support to Afghan authorities stopped

“Under the current circumstances, NATO has stopped all support for the Afghan authorities,” Stoltenberg said at the news conference.

He stressed that any Afghan government must comply with its international obligations to Afghanistan.

“Human rights must be safeguarded for all Afghans, especially women, children, and minorities, the rule of law must be upheld, unhindered humanitarian access must be allowed, and it must be ensured that Afghanistan never again becomes a refuge for terrorists,” the joint statement said.

Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews

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