Brussels (Brussels Morning) French police detained an Afghan citizen evacuated from Kabul over his connection to the Taliban and are keeping under supervision four other evacuees linked to the individual.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed that authorities are questioning the man and added that he was flown in via a military base in Abu Dhabi, according to RFI reporting on Tuesday.
Darmanin pointed out that French authorities “agreed to take this person and his family on board” because it is difficult to conduct security investigations of evacuees in a timely manner, adding that the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI) carried out an investigation when the man arrived in Abu Dhabi.
According to French authorities, France has evacuated roughly 1,300 Afghans via Abu Dhabi in recent days.
According to the man in question, he headed an armed Taliban checkpoint in Kabul and is a member of the Taliban.
Macron promises to help
Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron pledged the government would “protect those who are most under threat in Afghanistan” and added that Europe will intensify efforts to curb illegal migration and human trafficking networks.
“We must anticipate and protect ourselves against significant irregular migratory flows that would endanger the migrants and risk encouraging trafficking of all kinds,” Macron noted.
This angered activists and the leftwing in France, who have claimed that Macron implied France would not help all Afghans requiring assistance, but would take in only a limited number of people.
Xavier Bertrand, President of the Regional Council of Hauts-de-France, expressed belief that “the law must adapt to ensure our security, not the security of others.”
National Rally leader Marine Le Pen noted that France’s obligation to help people in danger must not expose the country to any security risk.
Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, expressed belief that evacuations will have to continue beyond the 31 August deadline, noting that France wants to fly out more than 1,000 fleeing Afghans.
