G7 leaders to hold Taliban 'accountable' on human rights, terrorism

"Taliban will be held accountable for their actions in Afghanistan on protecting girls and minorities' rights," say G7 leaders

AFP

August 24, 2021

Flags of six countries of the G7, USA flag not pictures. Source: AFP

LONDON: An emergency meeting of the G7 leaders on Tuesday agreed that the Taliban will be held accountable for their actions in Afghanistan on protecting women's rights and preventing terrorism.

Frances President Emmanuel Macron (R) takes part in a virtual G7 summit to discuss the crisis in Afghanistan at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on August 24, 2021. Efforts to evacuate thousands of people from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan became increasingly urgent, as European nations said they would not be able to evacuate all at-risk Afghans before next weeks deadline. — Reuters — France's President Emmanuel Macron (R) takes part in a virtual G7 summit to discuss the crisis in Afghanistan at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on August 24, 2021. Efforts to evacuate thousands of people from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan became increasingly urgent, as European nations said they would not be able to evacuate all at-risk Afghans before next week's deadline. — Reuters

"We reaffirm that the Taliban will be held accountable for their actions on preventing terrorism, on human rights, in particular, those of women, girls and minorities and on pursuing an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan," said a statement issued by Downing Street after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson convened the meeting.

The Taliban must "guarantee" safe passage for those fleeing Afghanistan beyond the current August 31 evacuation deadline, the G7 agreed.

Johnson said that he and his colleagues had agreed "a roadmap for the way in which we're going to engage with the Taliban" in the future.

But he added that the "number one condition" was "to guarantee... through August 31 and beyond, a safe passage for those who want to come out."

The UK chaired the emergency talks among the group of wealthy countries on Tuesday, saying it would urge Biden to extend his August 31 deadline to pull American forces out of Afghanistan.

France also called on Washington to push back the timeline.

However, Biden decided after the G7 talks that he would stick to the deadline, US media reported.

Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said earlier Tuesday it was "unlikely" evacuations from Afghanistan would be extended beyond August 31.

A spokesman for the Taliban on Monday warned that the group would not agree to any extension, calling the issue a "red line", with any delay viewed as "extending occupation".

"If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations -- the answer is no. Or there would be consequences," Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Sky News.

Next phase

Britain has continued to evacuate Western citizens and some Afghans from the capital, with Wallace warning the security situation was getting "more and more dangerous" as August 31 approaches.

The defence ministry said 8,458 people have been evacuated by the UK since August 13, with nine military flights leaving Kabul in the last 24 hours.

More than half — 5,171 — are Afghans eligible to relocate to Britain under its programme to protect those who aided its military and civilian officials during their two-decade involvement in Afghanistan.

An individual on the UK's no-fly anti-terrorism watchlist arrived as part of the evacuation, the interior ministry confirmed.

A spokesman said the individual was identified "as part of the rigorous checks process" and that after further investigation was deemed "not a person of interest to the security agencies or law enforcement".

Britain currently chairs the G7, which also comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.