Want to see progress on Taliban’s vows on counterterror: EU envoy

NEW DELHI: The European Union (EU) wants to see movement on commitments made by the Taliban set up in Kabul, including on humanitarian access, counterterrorism and the formation of an inclusive government, EU special envoy for Afghanistan Tomas Niklasson said on Friday.

The EU and India are close on most issues related to Afghanistan, including the need not to isolate the Afghan people even as there is no recognition of the interim government formed by the Taliban, Niklasson said in an interview. The two sides are also on the same page regarding the urgent need to provide humanitarian aid to the Afghan people, he said.

Though the Taliban setup has revoked Afghanistan’s constitution, broken promises it made while negotiating an agreement with the US and is unclear about its international obligations, the EU believes the interim government is a “reality for now” and it is better to have a dialogue with the Taliban than to close all doors, he said.

“Afghanistan cannot [and] must not be allowed to become a threat to its neighbours or other countries. And this is not something we are waiting to see happen. It takes decisions, it takes action from the de facto authorities,” Niklasson said.

Referring to his talks in Doha with a Taliban delegation led by acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi over the weekend, Niklasson said he had talked about humanitarian access, the importance of having women aid workers, safe passage for Afghans who feel threatened and want to leave the country, and human rights, where “a lot needs to be done”.

“We talked about girls’ education, where there’s a strong commitment now at least on paper...this needs to be translated, it needs to happen,” he said. “Where I see less movement is on inclusivity, of having a government representing minorities or ethnic communities...,” he added.