Dominic Raab will visit Pakistan to secure safe passage for Afghans
September 3, 2021, 4:59 am

Pakistan

The BBC reported, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will visit Pakistan later as part of efforts to secure safe passage for Britons and others trying to leave Afghanistan.

According to the BBC, Mr Raab will meet his Pakistani counterpart and other senior leaders on the latest leg of his regional tour.

The visit comes as the UK announced £30m in aid to Afghanistan's neighbours.

The funding will help provide shelter and sanitation for the tens of thousands of refugees expected to flee the Taliban regime.

The BBC said that in his first visit to Pakistan as foreign secretary, which is due to last two days, Mr Raab will meet the country's foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, as well as other senior civilian and military figures.

Dominic Raab

They are expected to discuss how to encourage the Taliban to allow safe passage for refugees and prevent Afghanistan becoming a hub for terrorist groups.

According to the BBC, the Foreign Office has already sent officials to help process those crossing the border.

After talks with leaders in Qatar on Thursday, the foreign secretary said evacuations may be able to resume from Kabul airport "in the near future".

Read more: UN Humanitarian Air Service resumes life-saving activities in Afghanistan

The Afghan capital's airport is out of action following the withdrawal of US troops last week.

And on Thursday evening Mr Raab said he had spoken to Tajikistan foreign minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin about "how our countries can help maintain stability in the region, and tackle the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan".

Of the £30m in aid offered to neighbouring countries, Mr Raab said £10m would be made available immediately to humanitarian organisations in order to despatch supplies to Afghanistan's borders.

Countries predicted to experience a significant increase in refugees will also receive £20m to help with processing new arrivals and to provide essential services and supplies.

Mr Raab said: "It is vital that we help those fleeing Afghanistan and do not allow the crisis there to undermine regional stability."

He added that the aid showed the UK's "commitment to shoulder our humanitarian responsibility".

Source: BBC

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