Eurotopics.net

Thousands of people have converged on Kabul airport in a desperate attempt to board planes leaving the country. Video footage shows people running alongside the aircraft and even clinging to them as they take off. The evacuation flights of Western countries had to be suspended after several people died doing this. Journalists stress that people are desperate and predict that a wave of refugees from Afghanistan will soon reach Europe.

In the US, criticism of Joe Biden is growing following the events in Kabul. Republicans, as well as a number of Democrats, are accusing him of uncoordinated action. However, the withdrawal itself has hardly been called into question, which is also reflected in opinion polls among US citizens. Will the US president's reputation be permanently damaged by the images from Kabul airport?

Now that the country has been recaptured by the Taliban fighters, governments have to position themselves vis-à-vis the new de facto rulers. Opinions differ as to whether dialogue with them is possible, desirable or makes any sense.

Following their lightning advance in Afghanistan, the Taliban took control of the presidential palace in Kabul on Sunday. US forces still control the capital's airport, where the evacuation of Western nationals and former staff is underway. Commentators fear the reconquest of power by the radical Islamist militia will have dramatic consequences far beyond Afghanistan.