The G7 demanded that the Taliban guarantee the safety of those who want to leave Afghanistan after August 31

The countries of G7 to demand Taliban ‘safe passage’ for those who want to leave Afghanistan beyond August 31, the date on which American troops plan to leave the country, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday.

After chairing a virtual group meeting, Johnson assured that the Western powers have “considerable” “economic, diplomatic and political” mechanisms to support this demand.

The heads of the seven powers agreed on a “roadmap for how we will engage with the Taliban” in the future, but “the number one condition” is to “guarantee until August 31 and beyond, a safe passage for those who want to leave”, he specified.

Leaders from Canada, Germany, the United States, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom noted that Afghanistan “must no longer be a haven for terrorism and a source of terrorist attacks against other countries.”

Allies of the United States, which control the Kabul airport, had been pushing for the date to be extended and to evacuate all collaborators, but the Taliban reiterated that they do not plan to change the deadlines.

However, Joe Biden’s administration decided on Tuesday to keep the withdrawal date to August 31, according to the American media, after Taliban fiercely opposed extension and threatened “consequences”.

In a final declaration at the end of the summit, the seven leaders expressed their “grave concern” over the situation in Afghanistan and issued a “call for calm and restraint” to ensure the safety of Afghan and international citizens and avoid a humanitarian crisis. “We demand that the obligations under international human rights law be respected, including the rights of women, girls and minorities, and that international humanitarian law be respected in all circumstances,” they said.

British Defense Minister Ben Wallace said on Monday that the UK evacuation will end when the US leaves Afghanistan. “I don’t think it’s possible to stay after (leaving) the United States,” he said.

For its part, France announced that it would end the evacuations of Afghans on Thursday.

News in development