France and Britain are expected to propose a resolution for the establishment of a safe zone in Kabul at an emergency meeting on Afghanistan of the United Nations Security Council which will be held on Monday.
French President Emmanuel Macron has said the proposal for the creation of a safe zone is aimed to allow humanitarian assistance and safe passage for people trying to leave Afghanistan.
According to Macron, the safe zone will operate under the oversight of the United Nations.
“It can mobilize the whole international community, and it also puts pressure on the Taliban,” Macron said.
The Taliban has responded to France and Britain, saying the creation of a safe zone in Kabul is unnecessary.
“When you create a safe zone in a time of peace, it means the country is not secure. In the past, around 300 to 400 people were killed daily, but today no one is being killed in the entire country,” said Sayed Akbar Agha, a former Taliban commander.
A number of political analysts, however, say that a safe zone in Kabul cannot secure the entire country. Instead, they urge the United Nations and world countries to support Afghanistan in forming an inclusive government.
“The world countries and the United Nations in coordination with the Taliban should support Afghanistan in forming an inclusive government. The creation of a safe zone in Kabul has no benefit for maintaining security,” said Mohammad Khan Andar, a political analyst.
Meanwhile, nearly 100 countries, including the United States, issued a joint statement today saying that the Taliban have assured them that they will allow foreign nationals and Afghans with travel documents to travel out of the country.
“We are all committed to ensuring that our citizens, nationals and residents, employees, Afghans who have worked with us, and those who are at risk can continue to travel freely to destinations outside Afghanistan. We have received assurances from the Taliban that all foreign nationals and any Afghan citizen with travel authorization from our countries will be allowed to proceed in a safe and orderly manner to points of departure and travel outside the country,” the statement reads.
“We have received assurances from the Taliban that all foreign nationals and any Afghan citizen with travel authorization from our countries will be allowed to proceed in a safe and orderly manner to points of departure and travel outside the country,” the statement reads.
"We will continue issuing travel documentation to designated Afghans & we have the clear expectation of and commitment from the Taliban that they can travel to our respective countries. We note the public statements of the Taliban confirming this understanding," said the statement.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said they will make sure the Taliban keeps its promise.
“Today, nearly 100 countries issued a joint statement on the assurances by the Taliban that all foreign nationals and any Afghan citizen with travel authorization from our countries will be allowed to safely travel outside Afghanistan. We will hold the Taliban to that commitment,” Blinken said in a tweet.
Blinken also said that the United States will stop its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan following the August 31 deadline.
The United Kingdom has already stopped its diplomatic activities in Afghanistan.
According to Afghan analysts, the Taliban needs to cooperate with the international community to form a government.
“Afghanistan in any condition needs the assistance of the international community. The Taliban has to know that they need people and the international community’s support for forming a government,” said Tariq Farhadi, an international analyst.