Afghanistan - Q&A from the press briefing (6 July 2021)

Q: After clashes with the Taliban in northeastern Afghanistan, some 1,000 Afghan soldiers fled to Tajikistan during the night of July 4. Do you see this as a threat to the country’s and region’s stability?

A: France is deeply concerned by the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and its consequences for regional stability. It calls on the parties involved in the Afghan peace process, and specifically the Taliban, to resume discussions as quickly as possible to reach a political settlement to the conflict and establish a ceasefire. It is up the Taliban to end the unacceptable cycle of violence they are maintaining simultaneously with the inter-Afghan discussions in Doha, and to abide by their commitment to definitively sever ties with international terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda and Daesh.

France will continue to work closely with the countries of the region to support the peace process in Afghanistan with the aim of reaching a political solution that should preserve democratic gains, and in the area of human rights. France is committed to the stability and regional security of the nations in the area.