Kabul — The Taliban said they want “good relations” with the rest of the world and will not allow Afghanistan to be a base for attacks.
Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Thursday: “We want good relations, we want a good economy, we want good trading, we want good diplomacy, but in return, we want our values to be respected.
He also said the militant group would not tolerate any threat to its “principles” and “independence” and that if anyone “threatens our country’s independence or attacks us, without doubt, we will react.”
On Saturday, the European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel will visit a Spanish military airport used as a hub to receive Afghans flown out of Kabul before distributing them to other countries’ bloc.
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Spain is receiving evacuated Afghans who have worked for EU bodies or EU member nations. The evacuees will spend several days at the camp for health and security screening before moving to reception centers ahead of their journeys to other European countries.
On Thursday evening, the French Foreign Ministry said that it had evacuated about 500 nationals, Afghans, and other citizens since Aug. 16. The country had already evacuated 600 Afghan staff and their families between May and July.
And, the German Defense Ministry said on Friday morning that it has so far evacuated “more than 1,600 people from Kabul on 11 flights.”
