A French delegation reportedly met Taliban officials in Doha on Thursday. It would have been particularly question of the situation at the airport of Kabul, at the approach of August 31, date on which ...

Afghanistan: French delegation met Taliban officials in Doha

People waiting to board a French military plane at Kabul airport as part of Operation Apagan.

Photo released on August 26, by the French army staff.

Text by: RFI Follow

5 mins

A French delegation reportedly met Taliban officials in Doha on Thursday.

It would have been in particular question of the situation at the airport of Kabul, in the approach of August 31, date on which the United States must definitively withdraw its troops.

France is seeking in particular to extend the evacuations of Afghans stranded in the country.

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According to the Quai d'Orsay, "

contacts have taken place with the Taliban in recent days in Kabul and Doha, to facilitate the ongoing evacuation operations

After this meeting, the spokesman of the Taliban indicated on Twitter that every Afghan who has legal documents will be able to travel outside the country, after the reopening of commercial flights and the civil part of the airport.

A promise already made Wednesday to a German diplomat during another meeting in Qatar.

►Also read: Explosions in Kabul: Westerners are working hard for evacuations

Suhail Shaheen also noted that "

peace has been restored across the country, the children are back to school and the media is working

For the Taliban, it is crucial to gain the confidence of part of the international community.

France for its part assures that it will not recognize the Taliban regime as long as a certain number of conditions are not met.

Asked before the announcement of this meeting, the French Secretary of State for European Affairs, Clément Beaune also recognized that diplomacy and international relations sometimes involved choosing between "

bad options to defend at best - or at least badly. possible - interests and values

”.

Thousands of people awaiting evacuation

In the aftermath of

the suicide bombing at Kabul airport

in which at least 85 people were killed and dozens more were injured, thousands of Afghans are still waiting, still there in the hope of leaving the country. According to the Pentagon, the evacuation operations, which are already taking place under very high tension, always under the threat of new attacks, "

precise and credible

threats

For two weeks and the capture of Kabul by the Taliban more than 100,000 people have been exfiltrated.

While foreign forces are due to leave Afghanistan for good on Tuesday, August 31, at least 5,400 other people are still awaiting their turn in the airport.

It was an American general who gave this figure during a Pentagon press briefing.

According to this official, evacuations on military flights are possible until the last moment.

This famous date of August 31, which has pushed many countries to accelerate this week the evacuations of their nationals and Afghans threatened by the Taliban regime.

Countries announce the end of evacuations

After Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and Australia, other countries have announced the end of their operations on Friday such as Italy, Spain, Norway and Switzerland.

London was also due to complete its evacuations during the day.

Paris for its part was supposed to close its airlift this Friday, the French Secretary of State for European Affairs Clément Beaune indicated that the evacuations could continue beyond this evening, while saying he was cautious in view of the security situation at the airport.

A thirteenth flight with 260 people on board, mostly Afghans, arrived this Friday morning in Roissy from Abu Dhabi.

A fourteenth flight is expected at the end of the evening with nearly 200 passengers.

Afghanistan: French delegation met Taliban officials in Doha

Afghanistan: French delegation met Taliban officials in Doha

Thousands of people awaiting evacuation

Countries announce the end of evacuations

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