As a guest of BFMTV, David Martinon returned to the situation in Afghanistan, a country controlled by the Taliban for a year and in deep social and economic crisis.
A year ago, he led the evacuation of French nationals and their auxiliaries in Kabul. David Martinon, French Ambassador to Afghanistan, reported on the situation in the country in the hands of the Taliban on BFMTV on Monday. The diplomat, who was stripped of his embassy and is now working from Paris, made particular mention of this first anniversary of the Islamist group’s return to power.
“Not surprisingly, the Taliban haven’t changed. Not surprisingly, the concept of ‘moderate Taliban’ doesn’t make sense,” David Martinon said over our antenna.
“They are not the best rulers there is”
The ambassador spoke of a “catastrophic” human rights situation, as several women demonstrated on the streets of Kabul on Saturday to protest the restrictions imposed on them, before being violently dispersed.
“Their most basic rights are denied, they no longer have the right to education, they can no longer leave their homes without a ‘mahram’, that is, an escort,” he explains on BFMTV. .
At the same time, the economic situation is not much better. Liquidity crisis, crop failures due to the drought… “The Taliban are not the best rulers there are,” ironically our guest.
“The Taliban undoubtedly have the ability to garner obedience, but it’s a stability that doesn’t necessarily last,” the ambassador said, referring specifically to the opposition represented by Daesh, but also to “hotbeds of rebellion.” Afghan territory.
A fragile “stability”
In addition, the country is administered without regard to all ethnic groups in the country. “If they don’t understand that their governance needs to evolve, that stability won’t last,” reflects David Martinon again. Still, the Taliban currently control the country and France has no choice but to maintain “a channel of conversation” with the Afghan authorities, although David Martinon has no direct contact with them.
“What we expect from them (the Afghan authorities, editor’s note) is very simple: it means respect for human rights, a genuine break with terrorism […] these conditions are obviously not present at the moment,” the diplomat notes.
David Martinon, who claims to receive a dozen more evacuation requests every day, nevertheless says he is “ready” to return to Afghanistan if conditions permit one day. “The circumstances, the context were very difficult […] Today, with this regime, safety is not guaranteed. We know we could be targets.”
Hugues Garnier Journalist BFMTV