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Taliban fighters in Kabul
Photo: Rahmat Gul / dpa
Once Joe Biden became more combative: "The Taliban know that if they attack American citizens or the American military, we will fight back like hell hardly allows." there are possible attacks during the evacuation mission in Kabul.
How do the countries of the world want to deal with the new rulers in Afghanistan?
The Taliban have been moderate for days, but the local forces of the NATO troops, women, aid organizations and activists in the country are neither afraid nor desperate.
Unless you are one of the few who are flown out, you are at the mercy of the Taliban.
In Biden's view, the Islamists must now decide whether they want to be recognized by the international community.
But he is skeptical.
He doesn't think the Taliban have given up their core beliefs, he tells ABC.
On-site reports confirm the fears.
Chaos continues around the airport in the Afghan capital Kabul.
Local helpers from German organizations reported that the streets were congested and in some cases impassable.
US soldiers did not let them at the entrances, said two local staff from the news agency dpa.
CNN journalist Clarissa Ward, one of the few foreign journalists on site, spoke of a "tornado of madness".
According to her, people threw babies over the fence to keep them safe.
Pictures from broadcaster ABC show a similar scene.
According to Ward, the Taliban are using whips and weapons to hold the people back.
"Everything is very, very turbulent," said Bundeswehr General Jens Arlt, who leads the German evacuation operation on site.
He spoke of "dramatic scenes" at an online Defense Department press conference he attended by telephone.
“You may hear a shot or two in the background.
You see the desperate eyes of Afghans and citizens of different nations who are simply trying to get into the inner area of Kabul International Airport, what we see is quite dramatic. "Arlt said," different representatives "from the German side tried to find "our people" in the outside areas.
Chancellor Angela Merkel described the evacuation as a "highly complicated operation".
On Thursday machines of the Bundeswehr started again and brought people to Uzbekistan to safety, further flights are to follow.
The EU is also concerned about the future of Afghanistan: the Taliban's victory is the "most important geopolitical event since Russia annexed Crimea" in 2014, said Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borell.
After the Islamists came to power, more refugees and an increasingly complex situation can be expected in Central Asia, where Turkey, China and Russia each have their own interests.
Borrell said the EU was forced to establish "communication links" with the Taliban.
Only in this way can she ensure the rescue of her nationals as well as Afghan local workers and their families from Kabul.
"Yes, we have to speak to the Taliban, but that doesn't mean their recognition."
China, on the other hand, is hoping for a moderate policy by the militant Islamists in its neighboring country (read more about Beijing's plans here).
Foreign Office spokeswoman Hua Chunying referred to recent assurances by the Taliban to form an open and inclusive government and to respect women's rights to work and freedom of expression and to reject discrimination.
700 million euros in donations are missing
"We hope that the Taliban will carry out these positive statements and establish unity among political parties and ethnic groups through dialogue and consultation," said the spokeswoman.
"We hope that they will pursue a moderate, prudent domestic and foreign policy, renounce terrorism and criminal acts and ensure a smooth transition." Referring to the distrust in the international community of the Taliban, the spokeswoman said: "Nothing is for always unchanged. "
According to experts, China wants to avoid that the neighboring country becomes a breeding ground for terrorism.
It calls on the Taliban to take action against terrorist groups and separatists who might be fighting for independence in the neighboring region of Xinjiang in northwest China.
According to the United Nations, there is a shortage of at least 700 million euros in donations to support the people of Afghanistan.
According to a newspaper report, Italy wants to convene a special summit of the most important industrialized and emerging countries (G20).
A video conference of the G7 heads of state and government is also being discussed for next week.
Seehofer justifies talks with the Taliban
The federal government is also looking for a way to deal with the Taliban - if only because one would have to rely on the Islamists to fly out local armed forces and other people in need of protection.
Federal Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer defended talks with the Taliban in order to secure the safe departure of local staff in this way.
"I think contacts with the Taliban are right," says the CSU politician.
At the same time, he spoke out in favor of the Afghan local staff being able to enter the country with their families.
All levers would have to be set in motion so that the former helpers of the German armed forces and the police, who are at risk in Afghanistan, could reach the airport in Kabul and fly out.
Seehofer left it open as to how many refugees could be expected.
"There is no such prognosis," he emphasized.
The range of estimates goes from a few thousand people to a few million.
(Read here why the 2015 refugee crisis is unlikely to recur.)
as / Reuters / dpa / AFP