The U.S. embassy in Kabul on Friday ordered its personnel to destroy sensitive US state documents and symbols that could be used for propaganda purposes by the Taliban as Islamist insurgents approached the Afghan capital.
In an official note that could be consulted by the French Agency, an embassy official reminds the staff of the embassy incinerator and other equipment for destroying documents.
Species to be destroyed include “objects bearing the logo of the embassy or ministry, American flags and other objects that could be used for propaganda purposes“, Is specified in the note.
A State Department spokesman assured that this is the usual procedure in the event of a reduction in the US diplomatic presence in any country.
«The reduction of staff in our diplomatic missions around the world is based on a standard business process“, The representative explained.
Washington is worried as the Taliban continue to advance lightning, occupy Afghanistan’s largest cities and approach Kabul dangerously.
President Joe Biden has decided to send 3,000 US troops to ensure security during the evacuation of most US diplomats and other US nationals, and preparations are under way to relocate the embassy to the airport.
Pentagon spokesman John Kerby, however, assured Friday that Kabul was not facing an “immediate threat.”
The Biden government is taking precautions to protect US diplomats in Afghanistan, nine years after the September 11, 2012 attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Four Americans were killed in that attack, including Ambassador Chris Stevens.
Meanwhile, the head of the Republican parliamentary group in the US Senate, Mitch McConnell, ruled yesterday Friday that It is not too late to prevent the Taliban from occupying Kabul, calling on the government of Democratic President Joe Biden to “pound” from the air the Islamist insurgents who continue their advance and to provide close support to Afghan government forces defending the city of 4.6 million people.
Mr McConnell was speaking after a conversation he had earlier with Afghanistan’s ambassador to Washington, Andela Raz.
Finally, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the ethe repatriation of his embassy staff to Kabul and Spanish citizens in the face of the Taliban’s relentless advance into the Afghan capital.
Minister Jose Manuel Albares announced “the beginning of the repatriation of the embassy staff, the Spaniards who remained in the country and the Afghans and their families who worked with us.”
“Spain is ready for any eventuality, including the evacuation of the embassy if necessary,” he added.
In addition to the embassy, ​​six Spanish nationals remained in Afghanistan today, according to the ministry.
The ministry “works to coordinate the transfer of Afghan nationals who have cooperated in military missions and Spanish cooperation programs in Afghanistan,” and is in contact with the other ministries involved.
Since 2014, 55 translators and their families have been granted refugee status in Spain, according to Interior Ministry figures.
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