UK Plans To Push Sanctions On Taliban At G7 Meeting Tomorrow, President Biden Says Taliban Keeps Promises

An illustration of a high-ranking Taliban leader. (Twitter @suhailshaeen1)

JAKARTA - Britain plans to encourage world leaders to consider new sanctions against the Taliban at a meeting of the G7 advanced economies on Tuesday to discuss the crisis in Afghanistan, a source said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who currently heads a group that includes the United States, Italy, France, Germany, Japan, and Canada, on Sunday called for a virtual meeting, following the rapid takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban.

Britain believes the G7 should consider economic sanctions and withhold aid if the Taliban commit human rights abuses, allowing its territory to be used as a haven for militants, according to a British government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity and a second Western diplomat.

"It is imperative that the international community work together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis, and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the past 20 years," PM Johnson said on Twitter on Sunday.

Sanctions against the Taliban are unlikely to be implemented immediately, a Western diplomat said. Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab first raised the possibility of sanctions to pressure the Taliban last week.

PM Johnson plans to push President Biden to extend the August 31 deadline to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan so more people can be evacuated, British media reported.

Separately, US President Joe Biden told reporters on Sunday that the Taliban had not taken any action against US forces controlling Kabul's airport, and had largely fulfilled their promise to let Americans reach the airport safely.

Asked if he would support Britain's push for sanctions if the Taliban committed violations, Biden said, "The answer is yes. It depends on the behavior."

President Biden, who has come under fire at home and abroad for his handling of the US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, last week said G7 leaders would take a joint approach to the Taliban.

He has also held bilateral talks with PM Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

President Biden said the US military was discussing a possible extension of the deadline, but hoped it would not be necessary. In addition, he said Washington would consider extending (time of withdrawal) if requested by G7 allies, but working with those countries and others to help evacuate their citizens.

The Taliban insurgents took control of Kabul last weekend in an uprising that has seen civilians and Afghan military allies flee for their lives. Many fear a return to the harsh interpretation of Islamic law imposed during the previous Taliban rule which ended 20 years ago.