Kabul: The European Union said on Friday it was re-establishing a physical presence in Afghanistan for humanitarian purposes, but insisted it was not formally recognizing the Taliban-led administration.
It was the first such announcement by a Western power after the 27-nation European Union and several governments withdrew staff and diplomats from Afghanistan since Kabul fell to the radical Taliban last August.
“The EU has begun to re-establish the minimum attendance of international EU delegation staff to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and monitor the humanitarian situation,” said European Commission foreign affairs spokesman Peter Stano.
A Taliban foreign ministry spokesman said in a tweet earlier that its officials had reached an agreement with the European Union, which “officially opened its embassy with a permanent presence in Kabul and practically started operations”. An EU spokesman declined to say that the mission had formally reopened.
“Our minimal presence in Kabul should not be seen as recognition in any way. This has also been clearly communicated to the genuine authorities,” he said.
Also on Friday, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said it had Taliban representatives invited Oslo on 23 January for talks with representatives of the international community and members of the Afghan civil society.
While working to contain the escalating humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, governments globally are struggling to avoid formally recognizing the Taliban, which came to power on August 15, as foreign forces. Was.
Many countries have increased humanitarian aid – aimed at urgent needs and largely bypassing government channels – as most development aid to the country has been cut off and sanctions against members of the extremist group imposed tough restrictions on the banking sector. have been given.
The European Union announced on Tuesday it was launching projects worth 268.3 million euros, mostly through UN agencies focused on health, education and displaced people.
Published in Dawn, January 22, 2022
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