EU has no other option but to engage with Taliban, says top

ANI
15 Sep 2021, 07:25 GMT+10

Brussels [Belgium], September 15 (ANI): The European Union has no other option but to engage with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan if it wants to influence events in the country, said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Tuesday.

However, Borrell underlined at a European Parliament plenary session debate in the French city of Strasbourg that engagement does not mean recognition, Xinhua reported.

Describing the summer's events in Afghanistan as "a tragedy," he insisted that engagement is a priority for the EU to continue protecting as many people as possible.

"To have any chance of influencing events, we have no other option but to engage with the Taliban. Engagement does not mean recognition. No, engaging means talking, discussing, and agreeing -- when possible," he said.

Regarding the situation on the ground in Afghanistan, Borrell said it was "dramatic", adding the European Commission has quadrupled its aid from 50 to 200 million euros.

Recently, the European Union said that it will continue to coordinate with the UN and its agencies on the stabilisation of Afghanistan, ensure that humanitarian aid reaches vulnerable populations and for this purpose, will also step up financial support.

Following the Taliban takeover of Kabul in mid-August, the situation in Afghanistan has been dominating the international agenda, with key global and regional powers trying to find ways to ensure stability and security in Central Asia.

Last week, Gunnar Wiegand, the European Commission's managing director for Asia and the Pacific said that the European Union is in no hurry to recognise the Taliban nor to establishing official relations with the group."We need to communicate with the Taliban, we need to influence the Taliban, we need to make use of the leverages that we have but we will not rush into recognizing this new formation nor to establishing official relations,"Wiegand had said at a joint session of the European Parliament's committees with the delegation for relations with Afghanistan. (ANI)

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Manila Metro.

More Information

null in null

Asia Pacific

Section

2 girls from France accused of importing $29 million worth of meth into Australia

BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia - Two French girls barely out of high school remain behind bars after their arrival into Australia's...

Dmitry Trenin: World War III has already begun

Forget dtente, Moscow must fight to the end Many now speak of humanity's drift towards World War III, imagining events similar to...

Maharashtra: First section of 21 km undersea tunnel of Bullet train project opens between Ghansoli and Shilphata

New Delhi [India], July 15 (ANI): The bullet train project has achieved a major milestone of opening the first section of the 21 km...

Jaishankar holds talks with Chinese counterpart, speaks of need for far-seeing approach to bilateral ties

Beijing [China], July 15 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held detailed talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in...

EU state wont recognize Russian winners of marathon

Lithuanian organizers have banned athletes from Russia and Belarus from representing their countries Organizers of the Vilnius Marathon...

Paul Waring bows out of The Open, Davis Riley added

(Photo credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images) England's Paul Waring announced Monday he will not participate in The Open Championship this...

International

Section