A member of the Afghan Parliament told EUROPE on condition of anonymity on Monday 30 August, after a first meeting in April (see EUROPE 12705/19), about the situation in his country, which he describes as a “disaster”.
He said the international community must put diplomatic pressure on the Taliban “to make sure they react like human beings”.
The parliamentarian explained that pressure should consist of both non-recognition and sanctions. He added that it was necessary to keep those already sanctioned on the sanctions lists and to designate the Taliban as a terrorist group.
Beyond diplomatic pressure, the parliamentarian asked the international community to continue to help those who worked for “democracy, freedoms”, or the government, for international companies, or international NGOs. “They are really at risk”, he said.
The parliamentarian said that the international community should put pressure on Pakistan to open its borders and do the right thing, because, according to him, even the Taliban listen to Pakistan a lot.
The international community must also continue to provide humanitarian assistance, especially to support internally displaced people, through international organisations, including providing tents, food, and medicines, he added. An estimated 4 million people have been displaced.
Asked about the Taliban’s announcement that an inclusive government would be formed in the coming weeks, the MP, whose future in Afghanistan is uncertain, was sceptical. “I personally do not trust them. They are calling for an inclusive government, but an inclusive government according to their own terms and in their own way. Maybe the government will be controlled by the Pashtuns, and the other ethnicities will sort of fill in the blanks”, he explained, adding that some ethnicities will also be left out. Moreover, for members of the government from other ethnic groups, “they will not take someone who is open-minded or democratic”.
The parliamentarian also explained that the Taliban had not changed, although they had become smarter in their dealings with the international communities and had improved their public relations. “What they say and what they do are two different things”, he warned. He recalled that the Taliban still forbid women to leave their homes to work, that the media is banned, and that there are no elections. “They beat people in the streets. They go through people’s houses and then they harass them, kill them”, he added. “The basic point is human rights, women’s rights. At least, if not full democracy, some democracy should be granted”, he added.
The MP also estimated that the population could rise up against the Taliban, “maybe in a few weeks, in a few months at the most”. He recalled that demonstrations had been held on National Flag Day, 19 August. “How long can the Taliban hold back this new generation?”, he wondered. “I think the Taliban will play with people, and by the time that happens, a lot of people will start thinking, ‘okay, now we have to fight for our rights’”, he added. According to him, resistance is building up in the country.
The European Parliament examines the situation
The Conference of Presidents of the political groups in the European Parliament was briefed on Monday by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, on the evacuation of EU staff, the operations of the Member States and the United States, and the upcoming humanitarian crisis.
According to the EPP group’s minutes of the meeting, obtained by EUROPE, the High Representative also mentioned, among other things, the high security risks and the expected strengthening of Daesh and migration flows.
The EPP reportedly wondered what the EU will do now. The S&D, Greens/EFA, Renew Europe and The Left groups, on the other hand, focused on the need for the EU to show solidarity and welcome Afghan refugees. “We make a distinction: it’s not migration, it’s asylum”, an EU source said. Mr Borrell was quoted as saying that if the Taliban let those who wanted to leave, it would be hundreds of thousands of people.
According to our source, some political group chairpersons felt that the EU needs to do more to make the EU’s security and defence policy worthy of the name.
After a discussion in the Committee on Foreign Affairs on 1 September, MEPs will debate and vote on a resolution on Afghanistan in Strasbourg during the week of 13-16 September.
On 2 September, the EU Defence Ministers and then the Foreign Ministers will also discuss the situation in Afghanistan (see other news). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant and Mathieu Bion)