Talking evacuations with Taliban is not recognition: Macron

Paris - He says Taliban needed to respect humanitarian law by allowing those who qualify for asylum to leave

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said discussions France is having with the Taliban over the evacuation of nationals and persons in danger in Afghanistan does not indicate recognition of the group as the country’s new rulers.

France and other Western states have in the last days revealed they are talking with the Taliban, following the group’s takeover of Kabul this month, over how to extract people, even after the pullout of US and other foreign troops.

“We have operations to carry out in Afghanistan — the evacuations. The Taliban are the ones in control... we have to have these discussions from a practical point of view. This does not mean there will be recognition,” Macron told TF1 television during a visit to Iraq.

“We have set conditions,” said Macron, outlining three key areas.

He said the Taliban needed to respect humanitarian law by allowing those who qualify for asylum to leave, and also take a “very clear line” against all terror movements.

“The objective is to obtain the humanitarian evacuations of all women and men who are at risk... Will we get there? I can’t guarantee that,” he said.