The five permanent members of the United Nation’s Security Council – France, Britain, the United States, Russia and China, on Monday meet to discuss the creation of a “safe zone” in Kabul to be put in place after the US completes its withdrawal on August 31.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the proposal on Sunday, saying it “would provide a framework for the United Nations to act in an emergency”, and allow the international community “to maintain pressure on the Taliban”, who are now in power in Afghanistan.
Macron’s comments came as international efforts to airlift foreign national and vulnerable Afghans draw to a close.
France ended its evacuation efforts on Friday, Britain did so on Saturday and the United States is set to complete its withdrawal on Tuesday.
But News Analysts say there are no practical details, the Airport to be used is not known, which regional countries would be used, and crucially, who will guarantee security?”
Another big issue is how the UN will be able to persuade the Taliban to agree to such a safe zone.
Many of the same people that worked with the West and who now feel threatened by the Taliban “are exactly the people that the Taliban wants to keep in Afghanistan, because they don’t want a brain-drain”.
However, the “safe zone” proposal has already been rejected by the Taliban’s spokesperson Suhail Shaheen.
Shaheen told Newsmen on Sunday that there was no need for a safe zone as Afghans in possession of a passport and a visa would be able to travel freely after August 31.
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