G7 seeks cooperation on evacuation, refugees amid chaos in Kabul
Photo taken on Aug. 15, 2021 shows closed shops in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan.(Photo by Rahmatullah Alizadah/Xinhua
G7 sought close cooperation in personnel evacuation and the resettlement of refugees amid the hasty withdrawal of the U.S.-led military troops in Afghanistan and the Taliban's swift takeover of the Asian country.
LONDON, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Group of Seven (G7) on Thursday sought to secure close cooperation in personnel evacuation and the resettlement of refugees as chaos continues at the Kabul airport amid the hasty withdrawal of the U.S.-led military troops in Afghanistan and the Taliban's swift takeover of the Asian country.
The foreign ministers of G7, including Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, as well as the high representative of the European Union, met online Thursday and "spoke about the gravity of the situation and the significant loss of life and internal displacement in Afghanistan over recent days," according to a statement issued by British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab in his capacity as the chair of the meeting.
"G7 Ministers support the statement of the UN Security Council on 16 August, and affirmed our commitment in particular to the urgent need for the cessation of violence, respect for human rights including for women, children and minorities, inclusive negotiations about the future of Afghanistan," it said.
The Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid (C, rear) attends a press conference in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, on Aug. 17, 2021. (Str/Xinhua)
Following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan over the weekend, scenes of chaotic evacuation at the Kabul airport and desperate Afghans who fell from the sky after clinging to planes taking off shocked the world.
Thousands of the nationals and local support staff of the United States and its allies are still left stranded in Afghanistan, waiting to be evacuated.
The latest development came as the rift between Washington and its European allies seemed to have widened over the Afghan crisis.
Photo taken on Aug. 15, 2021 shows a road in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. (Photo by Rahmatullah Alizadah/Xinhua)
On Tuesday, French daily Le Monde said "Europeans were trapped in hasty American withdrawal". British Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace said last Friday that the U.S. decision to pull its military forces out of Afghanistan was a "mistake".
The G7 will continue efforts to evacuate vulnerable persons from Kabul airport and call on all parties to facilitate that, the ministers concurred during Thursday's meeting, which set the stage for a virtual meeting of G7 leaders on the Afghan situation early next week.
British Home Office has introduced a "bespoke" resettlement plan, promising to take in up to 20,000 Afghans "in the long-term," with some 5,000 being in the first year. The plan was considered far from enough to deal with the Afghan crisis by British lawmakers who met for an emergency parliament session on Wednesday.
Related articles
Adams, Reyna, Turner, Ream are US concerns ahead of Copa America
NEW YORK (AP) — Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, Matt Turner and Tim Ream will be given the three weeks ahead2024-05-21TJ Maxx job applicant really wants to to work at the store
A man who wanted to work at T.J. Maxx has revealed his utter shock after finding out the salary for2024-05-21China's top political advisory body holds 3rd plenary meeting of annual session
The third plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People2024-05-21Canadian gov't announces plan to solve national housing crisis
OTTAWA, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The Canadian federal government on Friday announced its vision and plan2024-05-21Kosovo prepares a new draft law on renting prison cells to Denmark after the first proposal failed
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo’s Cabinet renewed efforts with a new draft law on renting a prison in2024-05-21Antique book archive inaugurated in Beijing
An archive with a collection of more than 40,000 antique books has been inaugurated in Beijing.The a2024-05-21
atest comment