G7 Calls on International World Responding to Crisis in Afghanistan

INTERNATIONAL    |   LONDON    -    G7 foreign ministers urged the international community on Thursday to unite in responding to the crisis in Afghanistan, British foreign secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement.

"The G7 ministers call on the international community to unite with a common mission to prevent the crisis in Afghanistan from escalating," Raab said in a statement after the G7 foreign ministers meeting.

The UK currently holds the rotating leadership of the G7, which also includes the United States, Italy, France, Germany, Japan and Canada.

“The crisis in Afghanistan requires an international response including intensive engagement on critical questions facing Afghanistan and the region: with Afghanistan most affected, parties to the conflict, the United Nations Security Council, the G20, international donors, and with Afghanistan's regional neighbors,” the statement said.

Britain said on Wednesday it would double humanitarian and development assistance to Afghanistan to 286 million pounds ($390 million) this year.

Separately, Raab said late Thursday that Britain and Turkey were working together in Afghanistan to ensure evacuations continued safely. He thanked Turkey for its commitment to guard Kabul airport with British troops.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Raab in a phone call that the world should guide and support Afghanistan as it moves to a new government instead of putting more pressure on it. 

Previously, the Taliban managed to control Afghanistan and made thousands of civilians and Afghan military allies flee for safety. Many fear a return to the harsh interpretation of Islamic law imposed during the previous Taliban rule which ended 20 years ago.