The European Union sets conditions for dialogue with the Taliban and studies of returning to Kabul

The conflict between the European Union and Afghanistan

Kranj (Slovenia), September 3 (EFE). On Friday, the European Union imposed conditions for dialogue with the Taliban – such as respecting human rights or preventing Afghanistan from becoming a haven for terrorists – and is considering having a presence in Kabul in order to verify that your requirements are met and continue with the evictions.

“We know very well that the Taliban are facing a shortage of cash, not just to pay salaries, but to pay anything,” said the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, at the end of the meeting. Ministers held yesterday and today in Slovenia.

Financial institutions such as the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund have stopped disbursing funds to new Afghan leaders, and the European Union has frozen development aid.

“The new Afghan government will have to deal with it and we are ready to help in the circumstances,” Borrell said.

Terms

EU calls on Taliban not to turn into a haven for terrorists in Afghanistan; that it respects human rights, in particular women’s rights; that they constitute an “inclusive” government; The former Spanish minister made it clear that they respect press freedom and guarantee humanitarian access.

Some will say the Taliban will not meet the requirements. “We’ll see,” commented the High Representative, adding that contact with the rebels “will increase depending on the behavior of this government.”

Being in Kabul

The Twenty-seven think about negotiating with the Taliban from a “practical” point of view, Borrell explained, because “we have to discuss the important issues, the first and the most urgent being how to evacuate hundreds or thousands of people. We would have liked to be evacuated by air.”

For this reason, he added, the EU is considering having a presence in Kabul because “it is much easier to talk to someone who is in the same city than to talk via video.”

Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Alparís, explained to EFE that “we are not going to talk about an embassy”, but that the idea is to open an “office”.

Along the same lines, the High Representative said, “Member states will not reopen embassies tomorrow, and we will not reopen a delegation with a head of delegation as if nothing happened,” stressing that this potential presence “is not.” The first step towards recognition of the Taliban government.

European sources told EFE that staying in Afghanistan “could be on a technical or humanitarian level.”

alternative Doha

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas explained that the EU would have a presence in Kabul if “it is possible to operate safely,” noting that “at least in the short term it is not seen as something that can be implemented.”

In this case, the European External Action Service (EEAS), which will coordinate the work of member states that wish to participate, will move its presence to Doha,” which is the closest place from the point of view of contact with the Afghan government, said the High Representative.

There is still an aspect of uncertainty. What does not change is the will and the goal: to leave no one behind,” Alparis told EFE.

Borrell also said that besides contacting the Taliban, the EU will launch a “regional political program of cooperation” with Afghanistan’s neighboring countries, among the objectives of which are managing migration flows from Afghanistan, and preventing and combating the “spread of terrorism”. organized crime.

A mission to be coordinated by the European Union countries with the United States.