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Afghanistan: European Union re-establishes physical presence in Kabul
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KABUL, 23 January 2022, (TON): The European Union said “it was re-establishing a physical presence in Afghanistan for humanitarian purposes, but stressed it was not formally recognising the Taliban-led administration.”
It was the first such announcement by a Western power since the 27-nation EU and many governments withdrew staff and diplomats from Afghanistan as Kabul fell to the hardline Islamist Taliban last August.
European Commission foreign affairs spokesman Peter Stano said "the EU has started to re-establish a minimal presence of international EU Delegation staff to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and monitor the humanitarian situation.”
A Taliban foreign ministry spokesman had earlier said in a Tweet that its officials had reached an understanding with the EU, which had "officially opened its embassy with a permanent presence in Kabul & practically commenced operations".
The EU spokesperson stopped short of saying the mission had been formally re-opened.
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