“The government has decided to withdraw all embassy staff. At the same time we have decided to temporarily close our embassy in Kabul,” Danish diplomatic chief Jeppe Kofod told reporters, adding that “the Danes in Afghanistan should leave the country immediately.”
Copenhagen said on Wednesday it would withdraw about 45 Afghans working or working for Denmark from Afghanistan.
A source from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced the temporary closure of the diplomatic representation in Afghanistan and the withdrawal of all its staff, including diplomats, local officials and family members.
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said today that Finland will keep the embassy open, but decided to welcome “up to 130 Afghans” who have worked “for the country, the European Union and NATO” as well as their families.
His German counterpart, Heiko Maas, also announced today that his country will “reduce” the staff of its embassy in Kabul, which, however, will remain “functional”.
Both Oslo and Berlin had already asked their nationals to leave Afghanistan as soon as possible.
Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States had already decided to send military units to ensure the evacuation of their embassies in the Afghan capital.
Today, the Taliban have occupied the city of Pul Alam, the capital of Logar province, located only 50 kilometers south of Kabul, as well as Lashkar Gah, the capital of Hilman province, Kandahar, the second city in Afghanistan and the capital of the province. The name, Firuz Koh/Shagcharan, is the capital of Ghor, and Tirin Kot, the capital of Uruzgan.
Much of the north, west and south of the country is now under the control of the rebels, who launched this major offensive in May as the final withdrawal of US and foreign forces began, which is expected to be completed by August 31.
At first, they occupied large rural areas without meeting much resistance. In recent days, the advance of Taliban forces, with many urban centers falling into the hands of the insurgents, has accelerated equally without much difficulty.
About 250,000 people have been displaced by the conflict since the end of May – 400,000 since the beginning of the year – 80% of whom are women and children, according to the United Nations.
Many civilians have migrated in recent weeks to Kabul, which could lead to a humanitarian crisis.
Read also: Germany reduces the number of its embassy staff to an “absolute minimum” in Kabul
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