The Taliban government in Afghanistan undertakes to guarantee the security of the European Mission in the country. Brussels plans to partially reopen that mission.
“We can confirm that we are working to restore a minimum presence on the ground,” a European official told AFP after the Financial Times reported the reopening within a month. “For security reasons, we cannot provide more details,” said the source, who asked not to be identified.
Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said the return of the European Union mission to Afghanistan would be a “positive and important step that we welcome.” He added that “as is the case for all other embassies”, security will be ensured. The European Union evacuated all workers in August when the Taliban arrived in Kabul.
“Minimum presence necessary”
Josep Borrell, High Representative for European Foreign Policy, told the press last week that EU countries agreed that “a minimum EU presence in Kabul is necessary” to “support the Afghan people and ensure safe passage for Afghans at risk”. He also noted that this does not mean that EU countries recognize the new system.
Only a few embassies are still open in Kabul: the embassies of Pakistan, China, Russia and Turkey. The buildings are now secured by armed Taliban fighters.
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