Tiraillments within European Union on attitude towards Taliban

The High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, sustained by Germany, is a supporter of a humanitarian presence of the EU in Afghanistan. Paris and Copenhagen are reluctant.

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European diplomacy is torn between humanitarian and political imperatives. Should we get back with the Taliban to help an Afghan population in danger, at the risk of adoverning a Muslim fundamentalist regime that refuses to comply with international rules on human rights? This is the dilemma that has strongly opposed, for two weeks, members of the European Union (EU), while Brussels has decided to return, to Kabul, for the second time, a delegation in Afghanistan.

For France and Denmark, this decision confines the naivety and amounts to paving the way for the official recognition of an inclined regime in the compromise, and that even its Russian, Chinese or Pakistani allies did not recognize .

According to the High EU representative for foreign policy, Josep Borrell, EU Member States agreed that “minimum presence” of the EU in Kabul was “necessary to support the Afghan people, and guarantee a safe passage to Afghans in danger, but that does not mean recognition by the Europeans of the new regime “. This statement did not escape the Taliban government. Monday, October 25, the Talibane authorities promised to “guarantee the security of this European mission”, closed mid-August, and which could reopen within four to five weeks. Monday, Spokesman Taliban from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, mentioned an important and positive stage.

“Famine is worrying, dramatic, with half of the population who needs help,” said about Mr. Borrell’s relatives, calling the EU to be “leader” in the face of this drama. They add that without solution, “the way will be open for China, the Emirates or Russia”. Embarrassing for a union that wants to be “geopolitical”. The EU Foreign Ministers laid down in September a series of conditions for the continuation of a prudent dialogue, focused on humanitarian action. But the repression of demonstrations and vis-à-vis journalists by the Taliban, like the composition – little inclusive – of the new government, had frozen the attitude of the twenty-seven, only the need for a “commitment operational “.

” save a population in distress “

This very vague wording of the mandate reflected the willingness to prevent the “implosion” of the country, without officially recognizing its leaders. For the Union, it was, for the Union, to avoid a new migratory wave that shakes many countries. On October 12, EU delegates met Taliban emissaries in Doha, Qatar. A “technical and informal exchange” exchange, carefully emphasized the persons concerned. Brussels also sent to Kabul, twice, to prepare the reopening of a European antenna, a delegation conducted by Arnout Pauwels, former number two of the EU mission in the Afghan capital.

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/Media reports.