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EU says it has no option but to talk to Islamic Emirate
The European Union has no option but to talk to Afghanistan’s new Islamic Emirate rulers and Brussels will try to coordinate with member governments to organise a diplomatic presence in Kabul, the top EU diplomat said on Tuesday.
“To have any chance of influencing events, we have no other option but to engage with the Taliban (Islamic Emirates),” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
EU foreign ministers have set conditions for re-establishing humanitarian aid and diplomatic ties with the Islamic Emirate, who took control of Afghanistan on August 15, including respect for human rights, particularly women’s rights.
“With the ministers, the Council, we agreed that the level and nature of this engagement will depend on the actions of the new government,” Borrell said.
The European Commission plans to secure funding from EU governments and the common budget of $355 million both this year and next to pave the way for resettlement of around 30,000 Afghans.