LAST HOUR. The Taliban are entering Kabul from all fronts, the Afghan interior ministry reports directly. Shots are heard in the streets of the city, but there is no fighting. The militiamen launched the decisive attack: the prison was attacked and thousands of prisoners were released. According to some sources, Reuters points out, President Ghani would be ready to step down. The Taliban also ordered their fighters to avoid violence in Kabul and allow safe passage for anyone who decides to leave. This was reported by the Reuters website, citing a Taliban leader in Doha. "The Islamic Emirate orders all its forces to wait at the gates of Kabul, not to try to enter the city", so on Twitter Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Taliban.
The president of the United States, Joe Biden, yesterday promised the Taliban a "strong and swift response" if US interests were hit. Washington sent 5 troops to allow the evacuation of embassy personnel. They will be brought home at a rate of one thousand a day. Biden also returned to defend his decision to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan. "I was the fourth president to preside over a military presence in Afghanistan, two Republicans, two Democrats. I would not want to pass, and I will not pass, this war to a fifth "Biden said after a meeting of the national security team.
Meanwhile, all Western countries are closing their embassies. The UK is preparing the evacuation of the British Ambassador to Kabul, Sir Laurie Bristow, to be carried out by today. The Times and Sunday Telegraph report. The Foreign Office initially wanted Sir Laurie and a small group of officials to remain at the Afghan capital airport with other international diplomats, the Press Association reported. For the Sunday Telegraph, the ambassador's repatriation was decided due to fears that the airport could be conquered by the Taliban who continue their advance in Afghanistan where they now control all the main cities, including Kabula for a few hours. Six hundred soldiers are deployed in the capital to evacuate the remaining British citizens and Afghans who have collaborated with the London army.
Demobilization from Kabul at this point is general while Denmark, Norway and Germany have announced the temporary closure of their offices or the reduction of activities to a minimum.
The withdrawal of the Italians. Today the start of the airlift to bring the Italians back to their homeland. The first C-21.30J of the Italian Air Force will depart from Kabul at 130 local time.
So Italy also started the repatriation operations of its staff, while maintaining a garrison of the embassy at the airport of the Afghan capital. However, it is not certain that this last bastion is also forced to deploy. “We are preparing for any eventuality, including evacuation. We have to think about the safety of our embassy staff "Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said following the lightning advance of the Taliban towards Kabul. Rome has therefore started the procedures to prepare the return to Italy of the staff of the diplomatic office.
On the security situation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, jointly with Defense and the Interior, also maintained close contact with the US State Department, to decide on coordinated action, including with other allies. While in the Italian office the security personnel were on alert and ready for any scenario. "The embassy will remain operational from Rome and the funds destined to support the Afghan security forces will be redirected towards the protection of the collaborators of our diplomatic, military and civil components“, Di Maio explained to Corriere, reiterating that, even without a new military commitment,“ we cannot think of abandoning the Afghan people after 20 years ”. Because “twenty years of international presence and cooperation with the Afghan authorities have restored protections and rights to the Afghans, starting with women and children. Now we will have to work with all our strength so that the Taliban give the necessary guarantees on the respect of acquired rights ”, remarked the head of the Farnesina.