Last Friday, NATO foreign ministers warned Talibans not to let Afghanistan become a breeding ground for terrorism, as they did two decades ago, prompting Western forces to intervene: "We will not allow any terrorists to threaten us. We remain committed to fighting terrorism with determination, resolve, and in solidarity."
The ministers did not explicitly threaten Talibans with military strikes, though, as NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg did at a news conference earlier in the week: "We have the capabilities to strike terrorist groups from a distance if we see that terrorist groups again try to establish themselves and plan, organize attacks against NATO allies and their countries".
In his opening remarks on Friday, Stoltenberg called it NATO's priority to get people out of Kabul and keep the airport running. "The situation remains difficult and unpredictable," he told reporters. "The main challenge we face is ensuring that people reach and enter Kabul airport."
More than 18,000 people have been flown out of Kabul since Talibans took over Afghanistan's capital, according to a NATO official, but thousands of people, desperate to flee the country, are still thronging the airport.
Stoltenberg thanked Turkey, the United States and Britain for their efforts to establish security at Kabul airport, and again urged Talibans to allow the safe passage of all foreign nationals and Afghans seeking to depart the country.
This summer, after almost two decades, NATO completed military operations in Afghanistan and withdrew troops from the country. But the alliance still operates a diplomatic representation in Kabul and, headquartered in Brussels, it also serves as a forum to coordinate national measures in Afghanistan, such as the evacuation of citizens.
Stoltenberg tells Taliban: We will not allow terrorists to threaten us again
