The Taliban confirmed that it is holding talks with Qatar and Turkey regarding securing Kabul Airport, coinciding with the end of consultations to form the government, while France and Britain demanded a safe exit for those wishing to leave after the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said - in statements to Al-Jazeera from inside Kabul International Airport - that the movement is in talks with Qatar and Turkey about operating the facility, which was under the control of US forces.

Mujahid added that the movement is now busy securing and operating the airport.

For his part, Taliban leader Anas Haqqani told Al-Jazeera that talks are underway with experts and specialists to work on securing Kabul Airport.

Haqqani added that the airport, which in the past two weeks has seen the evacuation of tens of thousands of Western and Afghan nationals, will return to business as usual.

In this context, Reuters news agency quoted French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian as saying that the Taliban are in talks with Qatar and Turkey over the management of Kabul Airport.


safe exit

Le Drian stressed the importance of securing the airport as soon as possible so that those wishing to leave Afghanistan could do so via commercial flights, stressing at the same time the importance of maintaining pressure on the Taliban without negotiating with them.

The French minister also referred to the necessity of implementing the resolution adopted on Monday by the UN Security Council related to securing Kabul International Airport.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the Taliban should provide safe passage for British and Afghan nationals who have the right to leave the country.

While Raab expressed his regret that any individuals who wish to leave Afghanistan should remain inside the country, he stressed that Britain is setting up a mechanism to secure their exit.

He added that Britain has achieved tangible gains from all sacrifices, pointing to the need for Britain and its allies to recognize the new reality and what can be planned for the future, stressing that his country reserves the right to self-defense against any terrorist group that attacks it, as he put it.

The British minister strongly denied what was reported by US leaks regarding Britain's responsibility for the Kabul airport explosion, in which 13 American soldiers were killed because its soldiers left the airport gate open.

In turn, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that his country is looking forward to forming an expanded government in Afghanistan that includes all ethnicities.

Evacuees from Kabul arrive at a base in southern Spain (European News Agency)

Security Council Resolution

On Monday, the UN Security Council adopted a draft resolution submitted by France and Britain calling for securing a corridor for the evacuation of people leaving Afghanistan after August 31 and respect for human rights. The draft was supported by 13 countries, and Russia and China abstained from voting.

The text of the resolution stated that the Council hopes that the Taliban will fulfill its commitment and allow Afghans and foreign nationals to leave Afghanistan through any border crossing, including Kabul Airport.

The resolution called for steps to be taken to enhance security in Afghanistan, citing the council's concern over intelligence about possible terrorist attacks there.

The Council stressed the importance of not using Afghan territory to threaten or attack any country or harbor terrorists, and stressed the importance of supporting human rights, including the rights of women, children and minorities in Afghanistan.

The US delegate to the Security Council, Linda Thomas Greenfield, called on the international community to help those who want to leave Afghanistan, stressing the international community's commitment to ensuring that Afghanistan does not become a haven for terrorism.

Baradar held consultations in Kabul and Qandahar regarding the formation of the government (Reuters)

government formation

On the other hand, a Taliban source confirmed to Al-Jazeera that the consultations on forming the new government in Afghanistan had ended, and said that the results would be announced soon.

The leader of the Taliban, Anis Haqqani, told Al-Jazeera that the movement is open to everyone, and that consultations are continuing to form a political system, stressing the non-interference of outside in the affairs of Afghanistan.

The head of the political office of the Taliban, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, had recently held consultations on the formation of the government, and the movement's leader, Mullah Hebatullah Akhundzadeh, joined the consultations in the city of Qandahar (southern Afghanistan).

For his part, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said today that his country expects to form a consensus government in Afghanistan within days.

refugee file

On the other hand, European interior ministers are discussing today the file of asylum from Afghanistan, with expectations that thousands of Afghan refugees will arrive in Europe in the coming period.

In the draft final statement of the meeting - which was reviewed by Al Jazeera - the ministers will stress the need to unify positions in order not to repeat the refugee crisis that occurred in the European Union countries in 2015.

The meeting is scheduled to discuss ways to support Afghanistan's neighboring countries to host refugees, in addition to organizing propaganda campaigns aimed at persuading Afghans not to leave their country.

The meeting will also discuss the security concerns that may accompany the wave of asylum to European capitals.