Brussels: Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday the alliance was surprised by the speed of the Taliban victory in Afghanistan but blamed the Afghan leaders for “tragedy”.
“In the end, Afghan political leadership failed to defend the Taliban and to achieve a peaceful solution that Afghans were very much wanted,” he said.
“This Afghan leadership failure leads to the tragedy we witness today.” Stoltenberg told reporters that the Alliance is now working to ensure the safety of civil personnel and Afghan employees remaining in Afghanistan.
The Taliban rebels invaded the Afghan capital at the weekend after the government and resistance supported by the West from the US-trained troops and NATO collapsed.
Staff from the Western Embassy have been transferred to the city airport, which is under the protection of a rear guard of US forces who are deployed to cover allied retreats.
“NATO has worked all the time to maintain operations at Kabul International Airport,” Stoltenberg said, after the NATO senior diplomat meeting from members of the Alliance.
“About 800 NATO civil personnel still provide the main functionality in very challenging conditions, including air traffic control, fuel and communication.” “Let me also thank allied NATO military forces – especially Turkey, the United States and the United Kingdom – for an important role in securing the airport.
Stoltenberg said NATO senior civil representation in Afghanistan, Ambassador Stefano Ponteckorvo, will remain at the airport.” To coordinate and Facilitating the evacuation of “NATO staff and Afghan employees.” The Taliban must respect and facilitate the safe departure of all those who want to leave the airport and, also, roads and border intersections must be open, “he said.” All Afghan men, women and children deserve to live in salvation and dignity.
“