Indonesia moves the Afghan diplomatic mission to Pakistan, evacuating dozens

JAKARTA, Aug 21 (Reuters) – Indonesia has moved its diplomatic mission to Afghanistan from Kabul to Pakistan, its foreign minister said on Saturday after its air force evacuated dozens after the taking power from the Taliban.

“Temporarily, the diplomatic mission in Kabul will be done from Islamabad,” Retno Marsudi said in televised statements at Halim’s military airport in Jakarta.

The initial plan had been to “continue our diplomatic mission in Kabul with a small team,” but it changed due to a “new development,” which he did not specify. She didn’t ask questions.

Kabul Airport has been the site of chaos in recent days, with thousands of desperate Afghans trying to flee as they grabbed papers, children and belongings as people from other countries also tried to leave after troops withdrew from the north. -American and other foreign.

At least 12 people have been killed since Islamist insurgents took the capital on Sunday, NATO and Taliban officials said.

Retno called for an “inclusive political process led by Afghanistan, owned by Afghanistan,” to bring peace and stability to the country, and for women’s rights to be upheld.

Four Indonesian diplomats from the Pakistan-based mission will assess the situation in Afghanistan on a daily basis to determine the next steps, he said.

An operation for Indonesia, the world’s predominantly Muslim country, to return home 26 of its nationals, including embassy staff and children, took longer than expected due to the situation at Kabul airport, he said. to say. Read more

Indonesia also picked up five Filipinos at the request of its government and two Afghan nationals, Retno said.

Gayatri Suroyo Reports; Edited by William Mallard

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