Taliban Controls Kabul, Indonesian Ministry Of Foreign Affairs: The Process Of Evacuating Indonesian Citizens Continues To Be Finalized, The Indonesian Embassy Is Carried Out By A Limited Team

Illustration of troops supporting the Afghan government. (Wikimedia Commons/Abdulbasir Ilgor/VOA)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government is closely following the conditions that occur in Afghanistan, along with the success of the Taliban militia in entering the Afghan capital, Kabul, last Sunday.

The success of the Taliban was followed by the release of President Ashraf Ghani, as well as foreign countries speeding up the process of evacuating diplomatic missions and their citizens in Afghanistan.

In his statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemlu RI) emphasized seven things related to developments currently taking place in Afghanistan.

"Indonesia is closely monitoring the very rapid developments taking place in Afghanistan. Then, Indonesia also hopes that a political settlement can still be carried out, through Afghan-owned, Afghan-led," said the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement Monday, August 16.

In his statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said that peace and stability are certainly highly expected by the Afghan people and the international community.

"Indonesia continues to communicate with all parties in Afghanistan and also with the UN Representative and Foreign Representative in Afghanistan," the statement continued.

Regarding the safety and condition of Indonesian citizens (WNI) in the country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the safety of Indonesian citizens, including the staff of the Indonesian Embassy in Kabul, was a priority for the Indonesian government.

"Evacuation preparations continue to be finalized, including through communication with various relevant parties in the field," explained the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The mission of the Indonesian Embassy in Kabul will continue to be carried out with a limited essential team, while continuing to monitor the security situation in Afghanistan," the statement concluded.

Previously, the Indonesian government had prepared a contingency plan for all representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, as well as communicating with Indonesian citizens (WNI) regarding the current situation in Kabul.

"A contingency plan is prepared for all representatives of the Republic of Indonesia abroad, based on regulations to anticipate dramatic political developments or a disaster," said Indonesian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Teuku Faizasyah when confirmed by VOI Monday, August 16.

Regarding the process of the presence of Indonesian citizens in Afghanistan where the Taliban began to control the majority of the country, Teuku Faizasyah said that he was continuing to monitor and communicate. As is known, a number of countries have carried out or are preparing to evacuate their citizens from Afghanistan, along with the entry of the Taliban into Kabul.

"The current condition of Indonesian citizens in Afghanistan continues to be observed and communication with them continues," he said.

To note, the Afghan-owned, Afghan-led process is a conflict resolution process that prioritizes the interests of the Afghan people in peace, by involving all parties and elements within Afghanistan.