Global interest in Afghanistan.. an emergency meeting of the European Union, urgent action in the Security Council, and contacts between the capitals of the major powers

The European Union is preparing to hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday to assess the situation in Afghanistan, and called on the UN Security Council to stop hostilities and form a new Afghan government, while pessimistic Western statements follow after the Taliban took control of Kabul.

And the European Union's foreign and security policy official, Josep Borrell, said - in a tweet on Twitter - that the EU foreign ministers will hold an emergency meeting via video on Tuesday to conduct a preliminary assessment of the situation in Afghanistan.

Borrell saw that Afghanistan stands at a crossroads, and that the security of its citizens and international security is at stake at the present time, as he described it.

European Union spokesman Peter Stano told Al Jazeera that intensive efforts are being made to ensure the safety of European Union crews in Afghanistan, stressing continued coordination with member states to evacuate Afghan staff working in European missions and their families to a safe place.

He added that the European Union is closely following the situation in Afghanistan, and that diplomatic and political efforts are underway to confront the current developments.

The European Union spokesman called for an immediate cease-fire and negotiation of a political solution to the crisis in Afghanistan.

He stressed that European support for Afghanistan remains contingent on a peaceful settlement of the conflict and respect for the fundamental rights of all Afghan citizens, including women, children and minorities.

In turn, French President Emmanuel Macron said - in a speech to the nation - that Afghanistan should not become a stronghold of what he described as terrorism as it was before, adding - in a speech on Afghanistan - that the Security Council must provide a responsible and unified answer to deal with the new situation there and protect stability. International.

Macron indicated that Paris intends to take several initiatives in coordination with the rest of European countries and their allies, with the aim of continuing the fight against terrorism in all its forms.

As for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, she described the Taliban's restoration of control over all of Afghanistan as an amazing, very bitter, tragic and frightening development for the Afghans, as she described it.

Merkel said that apart from fighting terrorism, everything has not worked out and has not been done properly despite 20 years of fighting there under the leadership of the United States and NATO.

A special session of the Security Council to discuss the situation in Afghanistan (Reuters)

Security Council

At the level of the international reaction, the Security Council called for an immediate cessation of violence in Afghanistan, the restoration of security and civil and constitutional order, and urgent talks to resolve the crisis of power in the country.

In a statement, the Security Council urged the establishment of a new government through comprehensive and unified negotiations, and to ensure the full, equal and meaningful participation of women.

The statement expressed the Council members' deep concern about a number of grave violations of international humanitarian law and human rights violations across the country, stressing the urgent need to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Britain's position

For his part, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that he discussed with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken the need for international coordination to prevent Afghanistan from being used as a base for terrorist groups.

Raab added on Twitter that a broader approach was needed to alleviate the plight of the Afghan people, saying that the priority of the United States and Britain "is to ensure the safety of our citizens and those who have supported our work for the past 20 years."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is holding a meeting of the government's emergency committee, to see the progress of the evacuation of British citizens and Afghan collaborators from Kabul, where the Prime Minister's spokesman said that this process will continue, without specifying a date for its end.

British Defense Minister Ben Wallace confirmed - in a press statement - that the Taliban movement is now in control of Afghanistan, noting that British forces will not return to fight the militants there.

And whether Britain will recognize a government formed by the Taliban, Wallace said that the matter depends on the actions of the movement and not on its words, and likely the influx of large numbers of immigrants across the world because of the situation in Afghanistan.

American contacts

Blinken and his Russian counterparts, Sergey Lavrov and Wang Yi, discussed separately the security situation and efforts to evacuate foreign nationals from Kabul, according to the State Department.

As for Russia, it said that Blinken and Lavrov discussed Moscow's communication with various Afghan political forces with the aim of "helping to ensure stability and public order," and that they agreed to continue consultations with the participation of China, Pakistan and other countries to start a comprehensive intra-Afghan dialogue.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also said that the situation in Kabul is "going towards stability", adding that it has established working contacts with representatives of the new authorities in Afghanistan, and that its embassy in Kabul continues to operate as usual, while China has expressed its willingness to establish "friendly relations" with the Taliban.

Arab positions

On the Arab level, Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said that Qatar seeks a peaceful transition of power in Afghanistan, and that there is a prelude to a comprehensive political solution and a comprehensive ceasefire.

He added - in a press conference with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi in Amman - that Qatar is working with its international partners to restore stability in Afghanistan as soon as possible.

In turn, the Jordanian foreign minister said that "Qatar played a major role in trying to reach a political solution in Afghanistan."

The Saudi Foreign Ministry also called on the Taliban movement "and all Afghan parties" to preserve lives and property, expressing its hope for the stability of the situation in Afghanistan as soon as possible.

And she added - in a statement - that the Kingdom "affirms its support for the Afghan people and their choices that they decide on their own without interference from anyone."