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EU countries have supported US efforts to stabilize Afghanistan for nearly two decades, sending thousands of troops and billions of euros in aid. Lithuanian soldiers also participated in operations and missions there.
But now officials have just been shocked by how quickly the radical Islamist Taliban are crushing the capitulating Afghan government forces across the country. Successful marches by the Taliban are even reported in the country’s traditionally hostile north, and militants end up surrounding Kabul.
“We fear that in 20 weeks the clock will turn back 20 years. Unfortunately, 20 days have been enough,” said Italian General Claudio Graziano, head of the EU Military Committee.
It is difficult to influence the Taliban
Europeans’ fears are heightened by the growing possibility that Afghanistan will once again be ruled by a radical Islamist regime. The Community is also concerned about the new migration crisis and the safety of Afghans who have worked with the EU military.
Finally, Brussels and the main capitals are closely monitoring the role that the region’s powers will play in deepening the crisis: Turkey, India, Pakistan and, above all, China, which seems to be able to recognize the Taliban government in terms of the group occupies Kabul.
AFP / Scanpix Photo / Taliban fighters in Kandahar
But at the same time, the EU, which will undoubtedly be reached by thousands of scared Afghans, cannot fail to acknowledge that it has very little influence on the management of this crisis.
Furthermore, the leaders of the Community countries do not really want a new military intervention; they have followed suit after US President Joe Biden announced that US troops would withdraw from Afghanistan.
For the Taliban, who have impressively crushed the resistance of the Afghan forces, it makes little sense to return to the negotiating table or listen to what outside powers generally say.
In Qatar, where negotiations on a sustainable political solution for Afghanistan are theoretically underway, the EU is represented by Special Envoy Tom Niklasson. But the weight of the community in these conversations exists only on paper.
EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell threatened to isolate the Taliban on Thursday night. He called on the Taliban to “immediately” resume negotiations and respect human rights, and said that if power were taken, the regime would not be recognized by the international community.
“Reuters” / “Scanpix” nuotr./Josepas Borrellis
However, for the Taliban, who have impressively crushed the resistance of the Afghan forces, it makes little sense to return to the negotiating table or listen to what outside powers are saying in general.
An EU diplomat acknowledged: “I don’t see any influence. The Taliban are determined to show us de facto And the most powerful United States does not appear to be able to stop the Taliban marches.
Many soldiers and money
Most of the cost of NATO operations in Afghanistan was borne by the United States, where the Americans lost more than 2,000. soldiers. However, the last two decades have also cost Member States a lot.
Since 2002, EU countries have provided more than € 4 billion in aid to Afghanistan. euros. Sent by European countries and troops: Germany, for example, has airlifted more than 150,000 people in 20 years. soldiers and 59 of them lost.
Now everything is going to be lost. And perhaps the biggest headache is what awaits Afghans who have worked with Europeans. Many of them face revenge from the Taliban.
Reuters / Photo by Scanpix / US troops in Afghanistan
Only the EU External Action Service (EEAS) estimates that around 100 local inhabitants work directly for the Community in Afghanistan. Adding their family members results in some 450 people whose safety is now at risk.
According to diplomats, the Secretary General of the EEAS, in a letter to Stefan Sannin at the beginning of August, had already asked the EU Member States to accept these workers, since the Community itself could not issue visas. Some countries have already responded, such as France and the Netherlands.
The EEAS also plans to provide financial support to Afghans who want to go themselves to neighboring countries, such as Pakistan or Iran.
Will there be a new migratory wave?
It is true that it is even more important to Europe than the conflict in Afghanistan and the possibility that the Taliban regime mercilessly seizes civilians there could lead to a new wave of mass migration: many Afghans are believed to be trying to flee to West. and seek asylum there.
Almost 400,000 people have been forced from their homes within the country since the beginning of the year. Afghan. Only since May: 244 thousand. It was in 2019 and 2020 when asylum seekers from Afghanistan were the largest group of people ever to reach the EU.
Scanpix / AP photo / The Taliban successfully occupy Afghanistan’s growing territory
“It just came to our attention then. But it could increase in the coming months. I am very, very concerned about that,” said Politico, a senior EU diplomat.
German Foreign Ministry official Niels Annen added that “it would be naive to think that the Taliban march and the violence in the war zone will have no consequences for migration policy.”
“The people of Afghanistan will have to run more abundantly than in previous years. We will also feel this in Germany, although not in the coming weeks,” said N. Annen.
Neumann: No one can seriously believe that people are fleeing Afghanistan just because some EU countries are stopping deportations. People are forced to flee because of the crimes of the Taliban.
Six EU countries – Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece and Denmark – have responded to these concerns by calling for an end to deportations of Afghans whose asylum applications are being rejected.
Activists and politicians from other countries immediately condemned such a ministerial letter for more or less sending a signal to Afghans not to try to seek refuge and safety in Europe.
German MEP Hannah Neumann, representing the Greens, said it was absurd to think that a deportation freeze would encourage the Afghan people to flee to Europe.
“No one can seriously believe that people are fleeing Afghanistan just because some EU countries are stopping deportations.” The crimes of the Taliban are forcing people to flee, “Neumann said, and Germany and the Netherlands soon changed their minds. and they frozen the deportations.
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