The Taliban are lying, according to France’s foreign minister

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French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian attends a joint press conference at Bauhaus University in Weimar, Germany, on September 10, 2021. Jens Schlueter / Pool via REUTERS

PARIS, Sept. 12 (Reuters) – The Taliban are lying and France will have no relationship with its newly formed government, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Saturday before addressing talks in Qatar on Sunday to discuss future evacuations from Afghanistan.

“They said they would let some foreigners and Afghans leave freely and (talk) about an inclusive and representative government, but they are lying,” Le Drian told France 5 TV.

“France refuses to recognize or have any kind of relationship with this government. We want actions from the Taliban and they will need some economic respite and international relations. It depends on them.”

Paris has evacuated about 3,000 people and had held technical talks with the Taliban to allow these exits.

Le Drian, who is heading to the Qatari capital Doha on Sunday, said there were still a few French citizens and a few hundred Afghans with ties to France in Afghanistan.

John Irish Reports; Edited by Daniel Wallis

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