EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson warned on Friday that Europe should take more seriously the security threats posed by exodus from Afghanistan.
“On the terrorist threat from Afghanistan, I must say that my assessment is that the level of alert is not sufficient. We really need to do more,” he told reporters after a meeting with his EU counterparts in Luxembourg.
The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August raised fears of a repeat 2015 in Europe, when nearly one million asylum seekers, mostly Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans, fled Turkey crossing Greece to Europe.
Johansson said that at the moment, the EU does not see large movements of Afghans towards its borders and the world has a moral responsibility to protect Afghans at risk.
Nevertheless, it urged member states to properly screen and register all people arriving from Afghanistan.
“It’s really important for security. And I must say I am very concerned about the great risk of Al Qaeda being able to recover again in Afghanistan,” the commissioner said.
He cited several reasons due to which Afghans may have to flee their country.
“The situation in Afghanistan is really dire, there is a great risk of economic collapse, there is a great danger of famine and humanitarian devastation,” Johansson said, adding that millions of millions were already there before the Taliban takeover. afghan refugee He was living in Pakistan, Iran and Turkey.
According to the United Nations, half a million people have been displaced within Afghanistan in recent months, a number that will increase as health services, schools and the economy collapse.
“On the terrorist threat from Afghanistan, I must say that my assessment is that the level of alert is not sufficient. We really need to do more,” he told reporters after a meeting with his EU counterparts in Luxembourg.
The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August raised fears of a repeat 2015 in Europe, when nearly one million asylum seekers, mostly Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans, fled Turkey crossing Greece to Europe.
Johansson said that at the moment, the EU does not see large movements of Afghans towards its borders and the world has a moral responsibility to protect Afghans at risk.
Nevertheless, it urged member states to properly screen and register all people arriving from Afghanistan.
“It’s really important for security. And I must say I am very concerned about the great risk of Al Qaeda being able to recover again in Afghanistan,” the commissioner said.
He cited several reasons due to which Afghans may have to flee their country.
“The situation in Afghanistan is really dire, there is a great risk of economic collapse, there is a great danger of famine and humanitarian devastation,” Johansson said, adding that millions of millions were already there before the Taliban takeover. afghan refugee He was living in Pakistan, Iran and Turkey.
According to the United Nations, half a million people have been displaced within Afghanistan in recent months, a number that will increase as health services, schools and the economy collapse.
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