Monday's French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Afghanistan shouldn't be considered a "sanctuary for terrorism" again after the US-led invasion of two decades ago. This was before the Taliban regained power.
Macron called upon the UN Security Council for a "reasonable, unified" response. He said that he had spoken with Prime Minister Boris Johnson from Britain's permanent UNSC member. He added that "joint initiative" would be reached in the coming hours.
"This is crucial for international security, peace and prosperity...we will do everything to help Russia, the United States, and Europe cooperate efficiently as their interests are the same," said the French president in a short televised address from his summer home.
He called the Afghan situation an "important challenge to our security" and a fight against "a common enemy of terror".
Macron stated that Macron's actions would be directed at actively fighting Islamist terrorism in any form. "Terrorist groups exist in Afghanistan and seek profit from instability."
He said that the European Union would create an initiative to stop large migrant flows from the country and crack down on illegal people-smuggling rings.
UN chief Guterres says that 'we cannot abandon the peoples of Afghanistan' to Security Council
France, Germany, and other EU countries would come together to provide a coordinated, robust, and unifying response to stop irregular migration.
Duty to Protect Those Most Under Threat
He stated that almost 800 Afghans, including translators and cooks, who had helped France on the ground, were already taken to French territory. Hundreds more would be assisted to leave Afghanistan.
Macron said France is ready to assist journalists, artists, and activists who are at risk of being targeted for their work.
Macron stated that "we must anticipate and protect ourselves from significant irregular migratory flow that would endanger migrants and risk encouraging trafficking and all that is associated with them." He also stressed that France will continue to fulfill "its duty to safeguard those most at risk in Afghanistan."
He said, "We will assist them because it is the honour for France to be side by side with those who share our beliefs." He addressed fears that Taliban would restrict women's rights and said: "Afghan women are entitled to live in freedom, dignity."
"We will clearly state to those who choose war, obscurantism, or blind violence that they have chosen isolation."