Afghanistan – Meeting between Jean-Yves Le Drian and the Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation and the Minister for Foreign Affairs (26 March 2021)

Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, received on 26th March 2021 Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and spoke by phone with Hanif Atmar, Afghanistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. These discussions took place on the eve of the ceremony in Paris to unveil a plaque in memory of the military commander, Ahmad Shah Massoud, organized on the initiative of the City of Paris.

These conversations provided an opportunity to reaffirm France’s commitment alongside Afghanistan. The peace process, the situation of Afghanistan, as well as the key aspects of our bilateral relations, were discussed.

The minister utterly condemned the campaign of targeted attacks in Afghanistan and expressed France’s wholehearted solidarity with the Afghan people, which continues to pay a heavy price in the face of terrorism.

He underscored that lasting peace in Afghanistan could only be achieved if the ongoing peace discussions were inclusive and the democratic gains over the last 20 years, notably with respect to human rights, were preserved. He expressed support for the swift resumption of inter-Afghan discussions under UN auspices.

While France and Afghanistan will mark the 100th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations in 2022, Jean-Yves Le Drian confirmed our determination to continue our active cooperation with Afghanistan, notably in the areas of health and education. €2.25 million in emergency support was provided in 2020 in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. France would also like to continue its historic partnership with Afghanistan in the cultural sphere by contributing to the protection and enhancement of Afghanistan’s rich heritage for the benefit of future generations.