Afghanistan: can we create a protected evacuation zone? – Franceinfo

It’s their turn: the last British soldiers have left Kabul, Afghanistan. Britain has just ended its evacuation flights. However, around the airport, there are still thousands of Afghan candidates for exile, eligible for departure. So, now, how to exfiltrate them? On Saturday, August 28, Emmanuel Macron, traveling in Iraq, spoke of the creation of a “safe zone”, a protected area that would allow humanitarian operations to continue.

A protected area to act in an emergency, under UN control. France and the UK are working together on this project. But how can this space be secured and with what means to transport Afghans who have a laissez-passer? “It represents additional terrorist opportunities, there are zones, peacekeepers not always equipped or armed, and it presents the Taliban as a force with which we are obliged to negotiate”, considers Pierre Servent, military expert. In fear of another attack, the evacuations are continuing. French forces will have evacuated 130 nationals and 2,600 Afghans.