Stoltenberg: We are deeply concerned about the severe violence in Afghanistan

NATO is "deeply concerned about the severe violence resulting from Taliban attacks, such as attacks on civilians and targeted killings, as well as reports of other serious human rights violations," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

"The Taliban must understand that the international community will not recognize them if they take the country by force," Stoltenberg said.

He added that NATO is still ready to support a political solution to the conflict.

"Our goal is to continue to support the Afghan government and security forces as much as possible. The safety of our personnel is paramount to us. NATO will remain diplomatically present in Kabul and will continue to adapt to the situation if necessary," Stoltenberg said. after consultation.

He also stated that he will continue to assess the development of events on the ground.

"We are in constant contact with the Afghan authorities and the rest of the international community," he said.

The Taliban tightened control of Afghanistan on Friday, and Western embassies are poised to send troops to help evacuate personnel from the Afghan capital.

The advance of the Taliban has fueled fears that the US-backed Afghan government could fall within weeks and rebels could take over, especially as international forces finish withdrawing after 20 years of war, Hina agency reports.

Germany plans to reduce the number of staff members of its embassy in Kabul to the minimum possible extent and to strengthen security measures in the complex, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.

Similar moves are intended to be taken by the United States and other Western governments.

"The government's crisis coordination team has decided to accelerate the charter flights originally planned for the end of August," Mas said.

He stated that they intend to use those planes to evacuate embassy staff, as well as local Afghan staff.

Denmark and Norway are also closing their embassies in Kabul. They, too, will evacuate their staff due to the worsening security situation in the country.

"We have decided to temporarily close our embassy in Kabul," Danish Foreign Minister Jepe Kofod told reporters, adding that the evacuation would be carried out in coordination with Norway, the country with which it shares a building in Kabul.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Soreide confirmed that they will also close their embassy in Kabul and that they plan to evacuate Norwegian diplomats, the local population employed there as well as their close relatives.

Finland will organize a charter flight to evacuate 130 Afghan nationals, including personnel who worked for Finland, the European Union or NATO, as well as their families, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Havisto said.

The Finnish embassy in Kabul will remain open for the time being.

Due to the deterioration of the situation, the Swiss government will also withdraw the remaining staff from the office for cooperation in Afghanistan.

To date, Taliban militants have captured three major Afghan cities, as well as several regional capitals, recording major military successes in recent weeks on the ground, reports dpa and points out that the Sunni extremists are tightening the ring around Kabul, whose fate is now uncertain.