The Afghan Taliban in the last few hours have strengthened their territorial grip around Kabul. Refugees from the relentless insurgent offensive flooded the capital and US Marines returned to oversee emergency evacuations. International embassies, including the Italian one, are in alarm. At the US embassy in Kabul, personnel were ordered to destroy “sensitive material”, such as items “that could be misused in propaganda initiatives”. The communication comes as the US diplomatic representation in Kabul is preparing to evacuate a significant number of diplomats due to the rapid advance of the Taliban.
Taliban siege Kabul, US embassy destroys documents
According to a diplomatic source also cited by CNN, a recent intelligence assessment indicates that Kabul could be isolated from Koranic students within the next 72 hours. But almost all the diplomatic representations are initiating the repatriation of personnel, or at least part of it. Spain will repatriate its compatriots to Afghanistan, the staff of the embassy in Kabul and the Afghans, with their families, who have worked with the Spanish military and aid workers in recent years. Sweden also cut its representation.
Afghanistan, fears for the Italian embassy
Mario Draghi and Luigi Di Maio are also on alert. The premier and the foreign minister, during a phone call, took stock of the situation and reiterated the need to proceed with the utmost attention to also secure the staff of the Italian embassy in Kabul. At the Farnesina a task force has met “permanently” to operate in a scenario that is in fact already a crisis, reports La Stampa.
Even the worst scenario is not excluded: the total evacuation of personnel, which would in fact mean a painful closure of the embassy in Afghanistan. “The security inside the Italian compound is not called into question, the structure was strengthened in 2017 and, apart from the Americans, it is considered the safest embassy in the city”, explains La Stampa, which provides the numbers of the Italian contingent. : “About 50 people work in the Italian diplomatic headquarters, including civilians (including Afghan personnel) and carabinieri (about 35 long-term soldiers, short missions and escorts).”