Afghanistan, extraordinary G7-EU-NATO summit.
Di Maio: "The terrorist threat is concrete"
Afghanistan.
New attack on Kabul airport, 5 rockets intercepted.
Today the virtual G7
US-EU: "The Taliban will allow Afghans to leave the country"
La Sapienza students in Afghanistan: "Save us"
Unicef: we cannot abandon the children of Afghanistan
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August 30, 2021 We are on the eve of the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, but the situation is still very tense. ISIS claimed responsibility for the launch of some rockets intercepted this morning, which had been directed towards the Kabul airport. And a very serious humanitarian crisis is looming in the country. Up to half a million people, including 300,000 children, could try to leave the country.
The UN Security Council approved a resolution on Afghanistan with 13 votes in favor and two abstentions (Russia and China)
calling for the protection of civilians and the Kabul airport. The text does not mention the 'safety zone' of which the French president Macron had spoken. Instead, "the importance of supporting human rights, including those of women" is reaffirmed, calls are made to strengthen efforts to provide humanitarian assistance, to allow a "safe" exit from the country and to allow safe and unhindered access to nations United. And that the country does not become a base for terrorism.
UN: Afghanistan does not become a base for terrorism
The draft resolution of the UN Security Council "requires that the Afghan territory not be used to threaten or attack any country, to host or train terrorists, to plan or finance terrorist acts". The document, of which Ansa received a copy, was drawn up by France, Great Britain and the USA. The draft reaffirms "the importance of supporting human rights, including those of women, children and minorities". The document "also calls for strengthening efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and asks all parties to allow full, safe and unhindered access to the United Nations, its agencies and partners".
CDS UN resolution but without 'safe zone'
The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution requiring the Taliban to respect the "commitments" made in favor of the departure of those who want to leave Afghanistan, but the document does not mention the 'safe zone', the protected area for the 'Kabul airport, proposed by France and Great Britain to facilitate evacuations, under the supervision of the UN, even after the American withdrawal. According to a draft text drawn up by the United States, France and the United Kingdom, the Security Council will declare that it "expects" that the Taliban will keep all their "commitments", in particular regarding "the safe departure" from Afghanistan ". of Afghans and foreign citizens "after the withdrawal of the United States which will end on Tuesday. The resolution, on the other hand,it makes no reference to the 'safe zone', cited by Emmanuel Macron.
Farnesina: guaranteeing safe passage
After the "extraordinary joint effort of the Farnesina, the Ministry of Defense and the Intelligence sector", thanks to which "Italy has completed the evacuation operations by air of more than 5,000 Afghan citizens, including those who , over the years, they have collaborated in various ways with the Italian presence in the country ", begins" a second phase, in which possible solutions will have to be studied in order to provide a safe passage to those Afghans who want to leave the country even after 31 August". This is what is stated in a note from the Farnesina, in which it is recalled that "Italy ranks first among the EU countries in terms of the number of evacuated from Afghanistan". "For this to be possible - the note continues referring to safe passage - a shared strategy must be adopted at a multilateral level, involving all the main international players, starting with the countries bordering Afghanistan ".
Biden: stop at nothing against Isis
President Joe Biden "clearly told his commanders that they must stop at nothing" to "chase and kill" ISIS members. White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said this in a press briefing. There is an "enormous amount of international levers" to be used on the Taliban to allow Afghans who wish to leave the country after August 31 to leave, Psaki added. "At the moment" the US "does not consider ISIS or the Taliban a threat on American soil" concluded Jen Psaki.
Di Maio: "The terrorist threat is concrete"
Today the extraordinary meeting convened in virtual format, of the G7 countries, plus Turkey, Qatar and the representatives of NATO and the EU to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.
Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio connected with the Farnesina Crisis Unit.
"I thank US Secretary of State Blinken for calling this meeting today, an important opportunity to discuss a shared strategy. As these attacks have shown, the terrorist threat in Afghanistan is real and must be addressed. It is essential to maintain close cooperation. in addressing the Afghan crisis, "he said
the Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio
during the extraordinary G7-EU-NATO summit. On the "safe passage" and the evacuations after August 31 "we took note of the assurance of the Taliban that all foreign and Afghan citizens with travel authorization will be able to leave Afghanistan. We must continue to assist the Afghans and to do so there are several options: one is to assist them in third countries, "Di Maio said. "Our Embassy has promptly moved to Rome and is fully operational. Our special envoy for Afghanistan is in Doha. It is important to continue to ensure close coordination there too and to decide on a common" among allies "position on where to place the diplomatic presence. It is essential to act together towards the Taliban. We must judge them by their actions,not from their words, "said the Italian foreign minister." Afghanistan cannot once again become a breeding ground for terrorism and a threat to international security. We must remain vigilant and make sure the Taliban honor their commitment to prevent any terrorist group from operating in the country. In this regard, we must work with all parties who share this same concern, starting with the countries of the region and including Russia and China. The commitment of the entire international community is needed, "said Luigi Di Maio during the extraordinary G7-EU-NATO ministerial summit on Afghanistan." We will continue to provide humanitarian assistance and revise cooperation programs to channel as many resources as possible towards the humanitarian aid,in particular towards the needy countries of the region. As Draghi told the G7, we are ready to re-commit funds originally intended to support Afghan forces towards assistance programs. At the same time we will have to ensure that humanitarian access to the country is guaranteed, that aid actually reaches those in need and that there are no impediments to the presence of UN agencies ", said Luigi Di Maio.that aid actually reaches those in need and that there are no impediments to the presence of UN agencies ", said Luigi Di Maio.that aid actually reaches those in need and that there are no impediments to the presence of UN agencies ", said Luigi Di Maio.
NATO: safe passage to Afghans who have collaborated
"We remain united: the Afghans who have worked with us and are at risk must have a safe passage. NATO remains committed to the fight against terrorism with determination and solidarity", writes the secretary general on Twitter of the Atlantic Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, thanking the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, for "the convening of today's virtual ministerial on Afghanistan".
Russia calls for an international conference
Russia has asked for an "international conference" to discuss "Afghanistan's economic and social recovery". As reported by the Russian special representative for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, the appeal is addressed first of all to "countries whose armies have been stationed in the country for 20 years and have done what we see today". "It is a point of honor and conscience to correct at least some of the mistakes they have made," Kabulov told broadcaster Rossiya-24. Russia, the diplomat continued, "has always declared that it is ready to join international efforts for the socio-economic recovery of post-conflict Afghanistan".
Rockets towards the Kabul airport. Isis claims
At least 5 rockets, 6 according to ISIS, which claimed responsibility for the attack, were launched towards the Kabul Hamid Karzai international airport. The C-Ram anti-missile defense system installed at the Kabul airport intercepted the missiles launched against the airport this morning. Subsequently, ISIS claimed through Telegram the launch of rockets towards the international airport, the broadcaster al-Arabiya announced.
WP witnesses: 10 civilians killed in yesterday's US raid, among them several children
The second US attack with a drone, which eliminated presumed ISIS suicide bombers headed by car to the Kabul airport, also killed 10 Afghan civilians from the same family, including several children. Some family members reported this to the Washington post. The victims were exiting a car in the driveway of their home when the drone hit the target. The United States has opened an investigation.
Pentagon does not deny civilian casualties
"We are not in a position to disprove civilian casualties," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a briefing when answering a question about the possibility that Sunday's drone strike in a residential suburb of Kabul caused casualties among the civilians. "Nobody wants the death of innocent people, but the threat at Hamid Karzai airport is real and detailed, we must be ready for future potential threats".
The Pentagon: evacuations even after 31 August. Still very dangerous situation
"There will be evacuations even after August 31", the Pentagon said, which also specifies that it still has the ability to evacuate people from Afghanistan even while it is completing its withdrawal operations. Pentagon spokesman John F. Kirby declined to say how many gates are still open around the Kabul airport, if any. "This has always been a dangerous operation, but we are at a particularly dangerous time right now to go into detail," he told reporters at the Pentagon. "There is still an active threat" of terrorist attacks in Kabul, the Pentagon spokesman said. The threat, according to the Pentagon, is "real" and "specific". "There is still time" forevacuation of American citizens from Afghanistan: so the Pentagon in the daily press point on the situation in Afghanistan. "We are still in a position to evacuate people," he added. About 122,000 people have been evacuated by the Americans since the airlift from Afghanistan began on 14 August. Among them are about 5,400 US citizens, General William Taylor said at the Pentagon briefing. Yesterday there were 26 military and two civilian flights carrying 1,200 people.Among them are about 5,400 US citizens, General William Taylor said at the Pentagon briefing. Yesterday there were 26 military and two civilian flights carrying 1,200 people.Among them are about 5,400 US citizens, General William Taylor said at the Pentagon briefing. Yesterday there were 26 military and two civilian flights carrying 1,200 people.
From the Taliban ok to expatriate for those with documents
The Taliban will allow all foreign and Afghan citizens with travel authorization for another country to leave Afghanistan. This is what is stated in a joint note released by about 100 governments and published on the US State Department website. "We have received assurances from the Taliban that all foreign nationals and any Afghan citizen with travel authorization from our countries will be allowed to proceed safely and orderly to departure points and travel out of the country," reads the statement. stresses that the signatory countries, including Italy, the USA, Great Britain, Australia, Japan, France and Spain, will continue to issue travel documents to designated Afghans. "We are all committed to ensuring that our citizens, nationals and residents,employees, Afghans who have worked with us and those at risk can continue to travel freely to destinations outside Afghanistan ", concludes the statement.
The Taliban: "Tomorrow full control of the airport"
The Taliban confirm that tomorrow they will take full control of the airport in Kabul, after the withdrawal of the last American troops from Afghanistan. A source of the movement quoted by al Jazeera announces that an agreement has not yet been reached in the negotiations with Turkey and Qatar for the management of the airport.
EU: continue with aid as long as the conditions are in place
"The EU will continue to provide humanitarian aid to Afghans through NGOs operating on the ground" as long as conditions allow, "said European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer." We have to be clear: no one is telling us that there is some sort of organized, predefined and certainly successful humanitarian corridor. What is clear is that we have said that we will play our role in supporting the Afghan people in any way possible, as long as conditions allow, with the help of NGOs on the ground, "the spokesman explained. The EU confirmed that. its humanitarian partners have given the commitment to remain and operate in the country "as long as possible" and on this basis the Commission remains determined also to "continue to support these activities and thus to help Afghans in need. "Brussels also focuses on cooperation with countries in the region to assist displaced people.
EU: no release of funds without guarantees on rights
"Currently there is a decision by the EU to suspend development programs, which are frozen, until we see how the situation evolves and until we have reassurance on compliance with the conditions" post office, said the spokesman for the EU External Action Service, Peter Stano. "I recall that there are currently several members of the Taliban on the EU sanctioned lists, in alignment with the UN Security Council sanctions, so unless there is a decision to change that, the EU will remain on its side. location, "he added.
Unhcr: "A wider crisis has just begun"
"A wider crisis has just begun" in Afghanistan and its 39 million inhabitants, said Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, asking for support. UNHCR, the Guardian recalls, said last Friday that by the end of the year up to 500,000 Afghans could flee the country, and today Grandi reiterated his call for borders to remain open and more countries to share "this humanitarian responsibility" with Iran. and Pakistan, which are already home to 2.2 million Afghans.
China-USA: telephone conversation between Wang and Blinken
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken yesterday, during which there was an exchange of views on the situation in Afghanistan and China-US ties. During the conversation, Blinken said that at a critical time when the US military withdrawal and evacuation from Afghanistan are nearing its end, Washington believes the UN Security Council should speak with a clear and united voice to show that the international community expects the Taliban to ensure the safe evacuation of foreign citizens and the access of the Afghan people to humanitarian assistance,and also to ensure that Afghan territory does not become a hotbed of terrorist attacks or a safe haven for terrorism. According to Wang, the situation in Afghanistan has undergone fundamental changes and it is necessary that all parties make contact with the Taliban and actively lead them.
Turkey: ready to manage the airport
Turkey is ready to engage in the management of the Hamid Karzai airport in Kabul, in collaboration with the Taliban forces. This was reiterated today by the Minister of Defense of Ankara, Hulusi Akar. "We have an affinity with Afghanistan that goes back to history, a past and common values. We are following and evaluating developments. If the situation and conditions allow, we are ready to evaluate the request," said the Ankara minister. . The Taliban's collaboration proposal was officially made public last week by President RecepTayyip Erdogan, however asking for guarantees on the security measures that would be adopted in the event of the presence of Turkish technical personnel.