US Department of State on Sunday released a joint statement by 60 nations including Australia, Germany, and Canada urging “all parties” to allow safe departure of diplomats and Afghan civilians.
“Given the deteriorating security situation, we support, are working to secure, and call on all parties to respect and facilitate, the safe and orderly departure of foreign nationals and Afghans who wish to leave the country,” the statement read.
The statement also said that authorities should bear responsibility and accountability for the restoration of security and civil order. “Those in positions of power and authority across Afghanistan bear responsibility—and accountability—for the protection of human life and property, and for the immediate restoration of security and civil order.”
The nations also requested that roads, airports, and border crossings must remain open for the safe departure of people.
The statement was released on Sunday after the Taliban took control of the presidential palace in Afghanistan. According to ANI, many nations evacuated diplomatic personnel from the country.
A US defence official told CNN that nearly 500 officials were flown out of Afghanistan. Over 4000 embassy staff and US citizens are yet to be flown out of the country.
Taliban on Sunday assured that diplomats and international citizens will be safe. “We assure all embassies, diplomatic missions, institutions, and residences of foreign nationals in Kabul that there is no danger to them. Everyone in Kabul must be in complete confidence, and the forces of the Islamic Emirate are tasked with maintaining security in Kabul and other cities in the country,” Mohammed Naeem, spokesperson for Taliban’s political office said in a tweet.
