EU: We stand with the people of Afghanistan and do not recognize the Taliban

Kabul Times News | News Report

The European Union has announced that five years after the Taliban returned to power, it will continue to stand with the people of Afghanistan and support the citizens of this country; but it does not consider engagement with the Taliban to mean recognizing or legitimizing this group.

Kaia Kalas, the head of the European Union's foreign policy, has said that the Union is one of the largest donors to Afghanistan and that practical engagement with the Taliban in some areas does not mean granting political legitimacy to this group.

Kalas has emphasized that achieving a stable and peaceful Afghanistan depends on fulfilling the criteria set by the UN Security Council. According to her, ending violations of the rights of women and girls, adhering to international obligations, preventing terrorist groups from using Afghan soil, and establishing an inclusive government are among these criteria.

The EU has also said that any move towards recognizing the Taliban will require tangible progress in these areas.

€10 million in aid to Afghanistan

At the same time, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced that the EU has allocated €10 million to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund.

OCHA on Thursday expressed its appreciation for the EU’s support, saying that the assistance will help continue to provide humanitarian services to millions of needy citizens across Afghanistan.

The EU says it has allocated more than €2 billion to support the Afghan people over the past five years. This assistance covers areas such as humanitarian assistance, basic needs, health, education and livelihood support.

Concerns over the human rights situation and economic crisis

The EU has also expressed concern about the deteriorating humanitarian and human rights situation in Afghanistan. The EU says the economic crisis and widespread restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms continue to pose serious challenges for millions of Afghan citizens.

According to the EU, a large part of the Afghan population remains in need of humanitarian assistance and systematic restrictions on the rights of women and girls continue.

The EU has stressed that it will continue to engage with the Taliban in areas that are relevant to Europe’s core interests and values, including women’s and girls’ rights and humanitarian issues; however, this engagement does not mean recognition of the Taliban government.

Kabul Times News