The perilous situation of Afghanistan that has caught the attention of the globe is getting worse by the ticking of the clock. The armed group Taliban has clenched on to 18 provincial capitals in the country till now after adding Pul-e Alam, Feruz Koh, Lashkar Gah, Qalat, Qala-e-Naw, and Terenkot. Just hours before, it had captured Kandahar and Herat cities.
Stressing on the diverse motives and identities of the people who form the Taliban group, United Kingdom’s defense minister said that Afghanistan will enter a civil war if things aren’t controlled.
Taliban is not a single entity but a collective group of people having competing interests in the country, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said while adding, “Britain found that out in the 1830s, that it is a country led by warlords and led by different provinces and tribes, and you end up, if you’re not very careful in a civil war, and I think we are heading towards a civil war.”
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Countries pulling back their embassy staff:
The situation is forcing several nations’ embassies to bring back their ambassadors and staff members. The Dutch government has similar plans as it might have to shut down its embassy in Kabul and evacuate some of the local Afghan staff members, they said today.
Though the Netherlands doesn’t have any such plan in place as their embassy is going to remain open for as long as the situation permits, they might have to change track if Kabul gets captured by the Taliban, Foreign Minister Sigrid Kaag said.
Germany joined in with a similar stance as Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said they must let go of bureaucracy and evacuate all local staff who worked for its military in Afghanistan. Charter planes, visas on arrival, and all possible ways should be taken up to ensure the staff leaves Afghanistan at the earliest.
“There is no time for bureaucracy, we must act,” he said.
Following the ‘civil war’ statement, Mr. Wallace said Britain could step back into Afghanistan if the country welcomes al-Qaeda in a way that threatens the West region.
Speaking about sending troops to the country, he said that it is still a possibility as he has kept the option open. “If the Taliban have a message from last time, you start hosting al-Qaeda, you start attacking the West, or countries like that, we could be back,” he said.
The UK and US have issued orders to bring back their nationals from Afghanistan. Thousands of troops have been deployed for the purpose. Within 48 hours, the Pentagon would be sending 3,000 more military personnel to evacuate the embassy staff members. Special Immigration Visa flights will be commenced for those who helped the US’s effort in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Britain is going to send 600 troops to evacuate its translators and staff.
UN‘s call to nations:
Amid the crisis, the United Nations refugee agency urged the neighboring countries of Afghanistan to keep their borders open and allow civilians to seek protection.
“An inability to seek safety may risk innumerable civilian lives. UNHCR stands ready to help national authorities scale up humanitarian responses as needed,” a spokesperson said.
All current situations in the country direct towards a humanitarian catastrophe, including the food shortage, the spokesperson added.
Provinces captured by Taliban:
The provincial council chief of Zabul, Atta Jan Haqbayan, said that the province’s capital city Qalat has also been captured by the Taliban, making it the 18th city under the armed group’s control. Officials posted in the region are on their feet, preparing to leave the army camp.
Afghan officials continue surrendering provinces to the Taliban as Terenkot was also given to the armed group, according to two lawmakers of the southern Uruzgan province of Afghanistan, Bismillah Jan Mohammad, and Qudratullah Rahimi. The governor also left the region to reach the airport and depart for Kabul.
Taliban also has Pul-e-Alam’s governor Abdul Quayom Rahimi captive after the group surrounded the governor’s office and warned of the entire compound coming under an attack if he didn’t turn himself in. The governor gave in and surrendered following a 12-hours long fight.
