The European Union keeps talking about human rights and an inclusive government, but what they really want from the Taliban are two things.
1. The evacuation of their remaining people from Afghanistan
2. Avoiding the massive migration of Afghans into Europe
The Europeans are much more vulnerable in that regard because, as I wrote in Any Afghan Migrants Who Reach America or Europe are Undeportable, they’re facing massive foot traffic. There were a lot of Afghans making their way to Europe even before the Taliban took over.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that 30,000 Afghans a week are fleeing their country. However a report in The Guardian states that “30,000 Afghan citizens have left the country each day for the past 10 days”. That would approach a third of a million migrants.
While a small minority can be seen trying to board American aircraft at Kabul airport, the vast majority are moving on foot through Pakistan and Iran. The Shiite terror state is a particularly ideal gateway destination because it allows them easy access to Turkey and then to Europe.
And because Iran, unlike Pakistan, has done little to fortify its border with Afghanistan, Iranian authorities profit from Afghanistan’s lucrative drug trade and allowing Afghan migrants access to Europe undermines its enemies in the European Union under the guise of humanitarian aid.
This is going to be massive. And the Europeans, unlike us, don’t have an ocean between them and the horde. So they’re looking for a deal.
European Union officials Friday listed a set of conditions for defining their level of engagement with the Taliban as the new rulers of Afghanistan, including respect for human rights and the rule of law.
None of the above.
The EU is focusing on delivering humanitarian aid, guaranteeing the safe passage out of the country of Afghan collaborators and employees who were left behind during the airlifts from Kabul, and trying to prevent a mass exodus of refugees that could prompt another migration crisis in Europe.
That’s more like it.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stressed that the EU also wants to see an inclusive transition government formed in Afghanistan and for the Taliban to honor their pledge to let foreigners and those who fear for their lives leave the country.
Just not too many of them.
“This political platform will consider, among other issues, the management of population flows from Afghanistan; the prevention of the spread of terrorism; the fight against organized crime, including drug trafficking and human being smuggling,” Borrell said.
Slovenian Foreign Minister Anze Logar, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency, said such cooperation will try “to stop any future migration flows” to the bloc.
And some European governments are more vehement about blocking migrant flows than other parts.
“The purpose of the meeting is to try to reach an agreement on coordinated engagement with the Taliban on the basis of certain conditions, and on the possibilities of cooperation with regional players,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters before the start of the informal meeting here in Slovenia.
Luxembourg’s foreign minister Jean Asselborn stressed that the Taliban must be aware that without international assistance, the country will collapse.
The implication being that foreign aid to the Taliban is coming.
Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto disagreed, saying that Afghans should not be encouraged to leave the country without restrictions. Polish foreign minister Zbigniew Rau agreed with him.
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