PM: International community must fund Afghan aid response

Boris Johnson has called for the international community to “fully fund the aid response” in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover.

The Prime Minister spoke with the ruling emir of Qatar on Sunday and Number 10 said both leaders agreed on the issue.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister spoke to the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, today regarding the situation in Afghanistan.

“He thanked the government of Qatar for its work in helping to facilitate ongoing evacuations from Kabul.

“The leaders discussed co-operation on the diplomatic effort to stabilise the situation in Afghanistan and ensure any new government is inclusive and abides by its international obligations.

“They agreed it was vital that the Afghan people continue to be supported with access to schools, hospitals and humanitarian assistance, and that the international community fully funds the aid response in Afghanistan and in the region.

“The Prime Minister also looked forward to welcoming Sheikh al-Thani to the Cop26 summit in November, noting the opportunities for Qatar to set ambitious emissions reductions targets.”

Earlier Johnson and the Turkish president agreed that any new government in Afghanistan must “protect the rights of women and minorities” during a phone call, No 10 said.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister spoke to Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, today about the crisis in Afghanistan.

“They discussed the importance of the international community working together to stabilise the situation and support Afghans in the country and in the region.

“The leaders shared the view that any new government must be representative of Afghanistan’s diverse population and protect the rights of women and minorities, and that the Taliban would be judged by their actions not their words on this.

“They agreed that countries must commit to burden-sharing on aid and refugees, noting that United Nations co-ordination would be central to that effort.

“The Prime Minister and President Erdogan also discussed intensifying UK-Turkey co-operation on trade and tackling climate change, ahead of Cop26.”