The G7 meets urgently for Afghanistan: pressure on the United States to give more time to evacuation

Maria Laura Avignolo

08/24/2021 10:46

• Clarín.com

• World

Updated 08/24/2021 10:46 AM

Two months ago, the G7 met in Cornwall with the pandemic as a goal to solve, the return of Joe Biden as Democratic president for a new American foreign policy and the need to find concessions for the climate.

This Tuesday, the G7 will meet digitally, chaired by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, to demand that Joe Biden

postpone

"until beyond August 31" the departure from Afghanistan to end the

most chaotic post-war evacuation.

The climate is one of tension,

mutual recriminations

, a deep crisis between the EU and NATO with the American administration in the face of the humanitarian crisis and a profound deterioration of the bond between the United States and Great Britain, its transatlantic ally.

A Biden entrenched in his positions is expected, with the high probability of

rejecting the extension

of the evacuation, because the Taliban consider that if they do not leave on time, that "is the red line" so that there are "consequences" after their victory in Afghanistan.

British soldiers deployed to Kabul to assist with evacuations.

Photo: AFP

Boris Johnson wants the measures to be taken among the G7 leaders, beyond the threats of "consequences" from the Taliban.

If British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace is authorized, he is willing to secure the airport with British troops "for several months or a year" until those being processed can be evacuated.

From Kabul, the military and journalists warn that if the deadline is not extended,

"everything will end in chaos."

A group of hardliner Taliban, coming straight from the battlefield, are now deployed to airport security, fearing

an ISIS attack

on the ranks of those waiting.

Mullah Baradar with the CIA

CIA chief William Burns met with Mullah Abdul Baradar, who will be the Afghan political chief, on Monday to discuss the security situation and the

postponement of the evacuation.

Also as will be the future of the link, when in two weeks there will be no more supplies in Afghanistan and hunger will reign because reserves are blocked abroad.

He traveled especially from Washington for the meeting.

So far 21,600 people have been evacuated from Kabul since Monday on US or coalition military planes.

This figure rose from the 17,000 who had left in the 32 hours before.

But

thousands are still waiting

at the Kabul airport to get on in long lines, coordinated by the Taliban, who consider that "there is amnesty" and it is not necessary for them to flee.

Will they extend the term?

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has said it

is "unlikely"

that the August 31 deadline for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan will be extended, as it becomes "increasingly dangerous".

"As we get closer, it is correct to say that

the security risk increases

, it becomes more and more dangerous." chasing the West out of Afghanistan, which will fuel its narrative and ambitions, "he told Sky News.

Soldier check Afghans' documents so that he can leave the country, at Kabul airport.

Photo: AFP

"The Taliban control the outer ring outside the airport, making it

difficult for ISIS to pass through

and they are certainly not friends of the Taliban. But we are very vulnerable if a terrorist decides to do something," he explained.

On whether Biden will extend that deadline, Wallace believes “it is unlikely.

Not only because of what the Taliban have said, but also because of President Biden's public statement. "

"It's all worth trying, and we will," he said.

The G7 on the move

Boris Johnson joins a summit of G7 leaders on Tuesday, where he will ask US President Joe Biden to extend the August 31 deadline to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan.

Biden will speak to his country later, and will speak out, amid a

brutal drop in popularity.

Security concerns could be a decisive factor in the extension of the Afghan mission Afghanistan.

At least 100,000 people remain to be evacuated and everyone knows they will not arrive in time.

Thousands will have to risk

crossing the borders into Pakistan, India, Iran or Tajikistan

, where they could be selected for exile by Westerners in special "Hubs", which Russia opposes, fearing Islamism will spread in the former. Caucasian republics.

Taliban infiltrate

In Great Britain and the European Union they have already received

six people

who were included in the list of

"No flight person"

of their respective regions.

One of them, who was not identified, arrived in Birmingham on one of the repatriation flights.

He was interrogated by the intelligence services and released.

The government examined the case and decided that it is "not a person of interest" and no further action will be taken, so the person is free to leave.

Aerial view of Kabul airport.

Photo: Reuters

A spokesman for the Interior Ministry said: "An individual was pointed out to the Interior Ministry as part of the rigorous screening process, which involved the police, security services and others."

However, upon further investigation, he is not a person of concern to law enforcement or security agencies. "

Five other repatriated Afghans

are under surveillance in France

for their presumed ties to the Taliban.

All were placed in "garde a vue" or provisional detention for questioning, according to the interior ministry.

"An Afghan who assisted in the evacuation of the French, people who worked in the evacuation of the embassy at a time that was incredibly tense and that has probably saved lives was questioned," according to government spokesman Gabriel Attal.

He is in a guarded residence in Noisy le Grand, in the suburbs of Paris.

Two other men have received the attention of the French intelligence services: Nangialay S, born in Logar in 1995 and Ahmad S, born in Kabul in 1991.

Nangialay

admitted that he belonged to the Taliban

, having used weapons as a man in charge of a checkpoint in Kabul.

Ahmad was seen carrying weapons in the streets of the city, linked to the Taliban.

They arrived with two other people on August 18, on an evacuation flight at Charles de Gaulle airport.

The other person came separately.

The French secret services

investigated their links.

"All are subject to the usual control that is done to people or organizations that incite, facilitate or participate in terrorist acts," explained the French government spokesman.

Ahmad, who had to be isolated for 10 days in a hotel in the Parisian suburbs due to quarantine, must report to law enforcement every day, who will go to his home to ensure his presence.

Their movements will be limited to their commune of residence.

The conservative Republican opposition

demands the immediate expulsion

of the five Afghans in "absolute urgency."

These presences increase the fear of

terrorists infiltrating

the evacuation

,

which could commit attacks in the European Union.

Summary executions

When China accuses the military of Great Britain and the United States of having violated human rights in Afghanistan, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet denounced that "there are taking place executions of civilians and former soldiers of the government forces in Afghanistan ”.

Bachelet reported that he had received "heartbreaking and credible reports of summary executions of civilians and members of the security forces at the hands of the Taliban in Afghanistan."

She was also informed of "restrictions on women's movements, going to school and the recruitment of boy soldiers."

He proposed a team to

monitor the actions of the Taliban.

The Taliban militiamen have already appointed a new finance minister, intelligence chief and interior minister, according to the Pajhwk News agency from Kabul.

The rest of the designations are to be appointed shortly.

Monumental humanitarian crisis

The humanitarian and hunger crisis is monumental in the country.

There is no food and

crops have been lost

due to drought.

In the coming days, it will be extended to the refugees who will be able to cross the borders still monitored, without clothes, shelter, food, money or place to stay.

India and Pakistan will play an important role in the reception of refugees, who could be processed in part to leave for Europe or the United States.

The European Union has allocated 200 million euros for this.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted on Tuesday that he will ask "our friends and allies to support the Afghan people and increase support for refugees and humanitarian aid."

"The Taliban will be judged on their actions and not on their words," he added as donations to organizations that deal with them are added.

But the Taliban told Sky News that the end of the month

was a "red line"

for evacuation and that there would be "consequences" if it was extended.

Paris, correspondent

ap

Look also

Chaos in Afghanistan: Taliban ban Afghans from airport

US speeds up evacuations in Afghanistan after Taliban warning