Talks between leaders of the Group of Seven industrialised nations on Afghanistan did not lead to an extension of the August 31 deadline for evacuations from Kabul, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday.
“The conference has not resulted in new dates (on the end of the evacuation mission),” Merkel told reporters after the virtual meeting of leaders.
US President Joe Biden, who addressed the G7 leaders for seven minutes, rejected a call from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, President Emmanuel Macron of France and Chancellor Merkel to extend the withdrawal deadline beyond August 31 in order to get more of their nationals and eligible Afghans out of the country.
The Taliban said on Tuesday that they would block Afghans trying to leave the country from travelling to Kabul’s airport and would reject any plans to extend the deadline for American troops to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of this month.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, noted that chaos at the airport remained a dangerous problem, and said the way to it was being closed to Afghan citizens to prevent people from joining the crowds. “The road that ends at the Kabul airport has been blocked. Foreigners can go through it, but Afghans are not allowed to take the road,” Mujahid said, without clarifying how long that policy would be in effect.
He urged the crowds of Afghans thronging the airport in hopes of leaving the country to instead go home, saying that the Taliban would “guarantee their security”.
But witnesses have previously described a Taliban crackdown on those who protest against the group. The Taliban is also actively seeking out Afghans who worked alongside US and Nato forces.
Mujahid called on the US “to not encourage Afghan people to flee their country”. He added: “This country needs our doctors, engineers and those who are educated — we need these talents.” Three US officials told Reuters that President Biden would stick to a Pentagon recommendation to remove American troops from Afghanistan by August 31 so long as the Taliban enabled the US to complete its evacuations.
The Pentagon made the recommendation that Biden stick to his August 31 target date on Monday, the officials said. Biden accepted the recommendation but asked the Pentagon to make contingency plans to stay longer if necessary, one official said.
The US evacuation operation could enter a dangerous new phase as time runs out to rescue people whom the administration has pledged to protect from violent Taliban reprisals.
The western powers and the Taliban appeared set on a collision course after a G7 meeting hosted by the British prime minister Boris Johnson laid out a future “road map” for Afghanistan.
After the G7 meeting, Boris said the group had enormous financial and diplomatic leverage and declared: “The number one condition that we’re insisting on is safe passage beyond the 31st, so beyond the initial phase for those who want to leave Afghanistan.”
He said the leaders had agreed to future engagement with the Taliban but stressed Afghanistan “can’t lurch back” into a breeding ground for terror, and girls had to be educated up to the age of 18. The G7 made the point that they remain committed to those values and to Afghanistan.
“I hope there is now a different path forward and a better future,” he went on. “I don’t think anybody is going to believe that this is going to be easy.” He revealed the UK had taken 9,000 people out of Kabul so far on 57 flights.
“We will go on right up until the last moment we can,” he went on, adding he was “confident” the UK can “get thousands more out”. Whatever is decided at the G7 summit may not be the last word. Neither side wants a shooting match. The Taliban might be offered financial inducements.
Also, Boris may not be entirely unhappy if the number of Afghans being flown to Britain is not unlimited.
Although the public mood is supportive of any move to rescue Afghans threatened by the Taliban, especially women, it will not be easy for local authorities to find homes for the refugees.
