The West must try to push the Taliban
into dialogue in order to protect Afghans who helped western
forces, 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader and ex premier Giuseppe
Conte said Tuesday.
"The Taliban must demonstrate they are open to dialogue, and the
latest news do not suggest there will be a change," Conte told
the annual meeting of influential Catholic activist group
Comunione e Liberazione in Rimini.
"But we have no alternative except to create a compact stance to
try to force the Taliban to talk to ensure protection for the
people who will remain," he said.
"We are working on the evacuation plan but it will end in a few
days," Conte said referring to the US deadline of August 31 for
pulling its last soldiers out and ending the airlifts.
"We must work on humanitarian corridors and worry about those
who remain".
The US's allies are expected to push for an extension of the
August 31 deadline at a G7 meeting later Tuesday.
Conte has been criticised, mainly by rightwing politicians, for
calling for talks with the Taliban.
The Islamist extremists have said they will be more moderate
than in their previous brutal regime but there have been reports
of militants beating women activists working for Milan charity
Pangea and whipping young men for wearing jeans.
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