Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Airplane silhouette landing in Kabul, Afghanistan
Airplane silhouette landing in Kabul, Afghanistan - Credit: Skorzewiak / DepositPhotos - License: DepositPhotos
Politics
Kabul
afghanistan
evacuation
Taliban
Sigrid Kaag
ministry of foreign affairs
Ank Bijleveld
Ministry of Defense
Ankie Broekers-Knol
Ministry of Justice and Security
asylum seeker
Thursday, 19 August 2021 - 14:20
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Dutch FM asks U.S. to stay at Kabul airport as long as possible

For the large-scale evacuations from Kabul airport it is important that the American army remains there "as long as possible", said caretaker Foreign Minister Sigrid Kaag. Kaag will call on the United States, together with a number of other countries, to do so, she said. "We depend on what the Americans do for everything. They coordinate with the Taliban." Germany thinks exactly the same, said the Minister.

The government's main concern now is to get "the people we want to bring here" on a plane as quickly as possible, Kaag made clear. That's easier said than done, given the chaos around Kabul's airport.

The Netherlands sent 62 soldiers to Kabul to speed up the evacuations. These commandos and marines will not leave the airport because the roads there are under Taliban control, said caretaker Defense Minister Ank Bijleveld. People who are allowed to leave the country with a Dutch Defense plane must therefore make their own way to the airport. That happened successfully last night, said Bijleveld. "We are doing everything we can to get people on the plane."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that dozens of people were taken away by the plane that dropped off the ambassador, an emergency consular team and the 62 soldiers in Kabul on Wednesday. They were taken to an unnamed country in the region. Some of them have a Dutch passport. More flights will follow. "We can now shuttle," said Bijleveld.

In addition to its own citizens, the Netherlands wants to evacuate Afghans who worked for our country for a long time, including their families. It is not yet clear how many people this involves. That was also "not important for the decision-making", said caretaker State Secretary Ankie Broekers-Knol (Justice and Security). "The point is that people who are now in need and who have worked for the Netherlands can be rescued in this way and find a safe haven here."

Reporting by ANP

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • South American coati spotted in Breda tree evades capture
  • Three farmers arrested for attempted manslaughter; Police warn against publicly doxxing officers
  • KLM sued over sustainability, CO2 emissions compensation claims
  • Man thought to have died in car crash may have been killed in shooting
  • Dozens arrested as Extinction Rebellion activists block A12 in climate protest
  • Impoverished households to get extra €500 for energy bills after all

Top stories

  • Three farmers arrested for attempted manslaughter; Police warn against publicly doxxing officers
  • One-year anniversary of Peter R. de Vries shooting
  • Big cities to push Dutch population growth in coming years
  • Video: Police fire shots at Heerenveen farmer protest; Actions at Groningen airport today
  • Covid infections may be stabilizing at new peak, but hospital total jumps 20 percent
  • Bisexual people often victims of violence; Situation not improving

© 2012-2022, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content