Spain's foreign ministry announced that it will expedite Spanish nationals as well as Afghan staffers who worked "side by side" with its diplomatic or military presence in Afghanistan.
A Friday email statement stated that "the advance by Taliban forces in their march toward Kabul" had prompted Spain to begin "the repatriation the embassy staff and the Spaniards still in the country as well as those Afghans and their families, who have worked side-by-side with us."
Spanish media reported that there were between 50 and 100 Afghan translators and staff who could be allowed safe passage to Spain along with their families.
In the last few days, the Taliban have taken over large parts of Afghanistan and captured half the 34 provincial capitals. They now control over two-thirds the country and are advancing on Kabul, the Afghan capital. The Western-backed government of Kabul still controls a few provinces in the east and center, as well the northern city Mazar-i-Sharif.
ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan's Interior Minister has announced that visa requirements have been relaxed for journalists who work for foreign outlets in Afghanistan, in response to the worsening security situation in Afghanistan.
The announcement was made by Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Interior Minister, via Twitter on Friday.
He said that all journalists and media personnel who work for foreign outlets in Afghanistan or other media can apply for Pakistani visas.
Ahmed stated that his ministry would issue visas on priority basis but did not provide details. Ahmed said that the decision was taken by Pakistan's government primarily to ensure the safety of journalists.
Ahmed didn't elaborate, but according to the old policy, a visa for Pakistani citizens required an extensive intelligence check on the background of any reporter.
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PARIS -- France's presidency has stated that it will continue to provide visas to Kabul, and is making an "exceptional effort to allow Afghan civilians access to French territory in the face of the Taliban offensive.
Friday's statement referred to "journalists, artists, and human rights activists who risk their lives for freedom of expression, freedom from opinion, and human rights."
France's presidency stressed that it had created a special procedure this year to welcome some Afghan workers who were working in French facilities in Afghanistan. It said that 625 people used the procedure to receive housing and medical care between May and July.
Over the past few days, half of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals have been seized by the lightning Taliban. The Taliban now hold more than two-thirds the country and are closing in upon Kabul and the surrounding provinces, where the Western-backed government remains in power.
This offensive is taking place just weeks before the U.S. officially ends its two-decade-old war. All NATO and American troops will have to leave the country by the end the month.
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ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan's national safety adviser has urged Afghan leaders to reach a political settlement quickly with Taliban to prevent further violence in Afghanistan.
Moeed Yusuf (the adviser) made the appeal to journalists in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Friday. He said that the fall in Afghanistan of every city was a reminder that peace must be accelerated.
Pakistan has had a significant influence on the Taliban and has been able to press them to the negotiating tables in the past. Kabul has criticised Islamabad for providing shelter for Taliban leaders, and claimed that the neighboring country provides refuge for Taliban fighters.
Yusuf stated, "Trust me. If they sit down, then they will be in a position to offer some kind of settlement. We will respect whatever Afghans decide."
He said, "History will judge you very badly and poorly if (this) is not done for a political solution" to the Afghan crisis.
Yusuf also supported Pakistan, claiming that it has done its best in the past to facilitate the Afghan peace process.
On the podium, "we can only give one message: Pakistan can't be a guarantor of peace, we can only facilitate." He said, "We will facilitate everything we can."
Yusuf stated, "Everybody should respect what Afghans do politically."
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BRUSSELS -- NATO Chief says that the Taliban offensive in Afghanistan has caused problems for the alliance's military and warns the insurgents that the West will not consider them legitimate if they take over the country.
After chairing talks with NATO ambassadors on Friday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated to reporters that they are "deeply concerned by the high levels of violence caused [by the Taliban's offensive], including attacks on civilians and reports of other serious violations of human rights."
He said that the Taliban must understand that the international community will not recognize them if they seize control of the country through force, and that NATO is committed to helping to resolve the conflict.
The decision by the Biden administration earlier this year to withdraw U.S. soldiers and to end the NATO training mission for Afghanistan has given the Taliban a boost. The majority of NATO troops have already left. They will be leaving by August 31.
Stoltenberg states that NATO's goal is to "support the Afghan government, security forces as much possible." This will almost always happen from outside of the country.
Many countries, including the United States are beginning to evacuate their embassy staff from Kabul. Stoltenberg stated that the 30-nation alliance plans to "maintain [our diplomatic presence] in Kabul and continue to adapt as necessary."
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MADRID -- Spain's defense minister said Friday that it will evacuate Afghan translators who had worked in conjunction with Spanish forces in Afghanistan.
In an email statement, the ministry stated that it had identified translators feeling threatened by being in the country and was working closely with the Interior and Foreign Ministries in order to bring them to Spain.
According to Spanish media, around 50 translators are expected to leave Afghanistan with their families.
Friday's statement also stated that Italy's foreign ministry was in close contact with the U.S. State Department, "in light of the Taliban's advance."
According to the statement, Ettore Sequi (ministry's secretary general) spoke with Wendy Sherman (Deputy Secretary of State), "with whom he agreed to further strengthen the coordination between embassies from both countries as well on a bilateral basis."
The ministry stated that Sequi, a former Afghan ambassador, discussed both current and future initiatives.
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COPENHAGEN (Denmark) -- Friday's Danish foreign minister urged Danes living in Afghanistan to flee the country. He called the rapidly-evolving crisis "a very grave situation" as the Taliban seize more territory throughout the war-torn nation.
Jeppe Kofod confirmed the closing of the Danish Embassy in Kabul, but said that security concerns meant that we could not predict when it would close.
Danish lawmakers approved Wednesday's agreement to expel 45 Afghan citizens working for Denmark's government. They also offered them two-year residency in Europe. In 2006, Denmark opened its Kabul embassy.
In Oslo, Ine Eriksen Soereide, the Foreign Minister, stated that the Norwegian Embassy in Kabul was also closing. It was temporary, she said, and "the safety of all our employees is our highest priority."
The Norwegian government said that it would not allow former employees to return home from the war-torn nation. Soereide stated that the evacuation will include embassy employees, both Norwegians as well as locals who are "with their immediate family".
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BERLIN -- Germany's foreign Minister says his country has reduced its embassy staff in Kabul by "the operationally required, absolute minimum" because of the tension in Afghanistan.
Heiko Maas said to reporters that a "crisis team" was being immediately sent to Afghanistan's capital to improve security at the Embassy. He urged all German citizens to immediately leave Afghanistan and said that charter flights planned for diplomats and staff from the embassy would be arranged.
Maas stated that visas for Afghans will be issued in Germany as a way to expedite the process of getting people out.
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BRUSSELS -- NATO envoys met Friday in Brussels to discuss developments regarding Afghanistan, despite a rapidly deteriorating security environment in the wake the ongoing Taliban offensive.
According to NATO officials, Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, and 30 national ambassadors participated in the meeting in Brussels. This was in compliance with regulations.
"Allies are always consulting on Afghanistan's situation," said the official, adding that Stoltenberg was in regular contact with both allies and Afghan authorities.
"NATO monitors the security situation closely. The official stated that NATO continues to coordinate with Afghan authorities and other members of the international community.
NATO assumed responsibility for international security operations in Afghanistan 2003, its first major mission beyond North America. It aimed to stabilize the government and build local security forces.
In 2014, the U.S.-led military coalition ceased combat operations to concentrate on training Afghan security forces. With around 300,000 troops, the Afghan armed forces outnumbers the Taliban almost four to 1. However, they have not been able to stop the insurgent offensive.
The decision by the Biden administration earlier this year to withdraw U.S. soldiers and to end the NATO training mission for Afghanistan has given the Taliban a boost. The majority of NATO troops have already left. They will be leaving by August 31.
NATO officials stated that they continue to maintain a "diplomatic presence" in Kabul. We won't go into operational details because it is important to ensure the safety of our personnel.
