France calls on all its nationals to leave Afghanistan
An Afghan policeman at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Kabul, July 13, 2021. REUTERS - MOHAMMAD ISMAIL
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The situation in Afghanistan worries the French authorities.
Paris calls on all its nationals to leave the country.
A special flight will be set up by the French government on Saturday morning from Kabul.
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France calls on all its nationals to leave the Afghanisan, "
because of the development of the security situation in the country and given the short-term prospects
," the French embassy announced in a statement on Tuesday.
"
The government will set up a special flight on the morning of July 17, from Kabul, to allow the return to France of the entire French community
" and "
no additional special flight can be chartered
", continues the 'embassy, recommending "
formally to all French people to take this special flight
".
Beyond this date of July 17, the French embassy in Kabul will no
longer
be "
able to ensure the safety of the departure
" of the French still present on the spot, warns the embassy.
According to her, "
less than a hundred
" French people are registered with her in Afghanistan.
The embassy remains open
An NGO official on condition of anonymity told our correspondent in Kabul,
Sonia Ghezali
, to take note of the embassy's recommendations, but that his organization had been ensuring its own security for several years in government zones and in zones controlled by the Taliban.
It is therefore very likely that some NGOs will continue their work in Afghanistan.
The French Embassy has also not indicated when it would close its doors.
The diplomatic representation remains open for the time being, French Ambassador David Martinon said.
"
We are continuing our work, maintaining, today more than ever, our support for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,
" he said.
The Afghan staff of the embassy, those of the institutions which depend on it, as well as those of the French NGO Amitié franco-afghane (Afrane), have been evacuated in recent weeks to France under the right of asylum, also indicates David Martinon.
Taliban maneuver to surround Kabul
The foreign troops, present for 20 years in Afghanistan as part of a coalition led by the United States under the aegis of NATO, began in early May their final withdrawal from the country planned to be completed by at the end of August.
►
To read also: The commander of the American troops in Afghanistan left office
As a result of this withdrawal, the Taliban have led an all-out offensive against Afghan forces for two months and have seized large rural areas.
Deprived of crucial American air support, the Afghan forces have so far offered little resistance and essentially control only the main axes and the provincial capitals, some of which are surrounded.
The insurgents recently took control of several districts in provinces neighboring Kabul, raising fears that they will soon attack
the capital and its airport
, the only way out of the city for foreigners.
► To read also: Afghanistan: the fear of a civil war is growing
(With
AFP
)
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Afghanistan
France
Diplomacy