G7 foreign ministers urge Taliban to ensure safe passage to Afghans, others from Kabul

In the first formal statement, foreign ministers from the G7 countries on Thursday urged the Taliban to provide safe passage for those trying to flee Kabul.

The ministers “called for the Taliban to guarantee safe passage to foreign nationals and Afghans wanting to leave”, according to Britain’s Foreign Office.

The G7 includes the countries like the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the UK.

The statement from G7 countries comes four days after the Taliban captured Afghanistan. On Sunday, the Taliban stunned the world as it took control of Kabul, forcing President Ashraf Ghani to flee Afghanistan and take refuge in the UAE. Since then, thousands of Afghan citizens have been trying to hitch a flight abroad in order to escape the group, known for its brutality.

Earlier, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace warned that the Taliban takeover will inspire terrorists and trigger an “explosion” of extremism and security challenges for the world.

Speaking to the BBC, the minister said he feared that terror groups like Al Qaeda would view the Taliban advance as an “opportunity” and it was important for the West to gear up against such a prospect.

“It’s pretty straightforward. Failed states lead to an explosion of poverty and usually an explosion of extremism or security challenges. That’s why we have invested in capabilities to take action from outside a country,” Wallace said.

He also stated that the fate of Afghanistan after a 20-year war led by the United States means that the West’s resolve is now perceived as weak by major adversaries.

“What I’m uncomfortable with is that we have a world order now where resolve is perceived by our adversaries as weak, the West’s resolve,” Wallace added.

Notably, Afghanistan’s war has cost several lives and wealth but the Taliban managed to seize the country, and now other countries are struggling to evacuate their citizens.

(With inputs from Agencies)