United States President Joe Biden and France President Emmanuel Macron discussed the situation in Afghanistan, including the Kabul airport evacuation process, in a phone call, the White House said in a statement following the call. "They [Biden and Macron] underscored the importance of continued close coordination among allies and democratic partners on Afghanistan, including through multilateral fora, on the provision of humanitarian assistance and support for refugees," the statement reads. Macron and Biden jointly affirmed the necessity to evacuate Afghans who collaborated with the allies during their presence in the country. The French presidential palace said in a statement on Friday that the two presidents, during a telephone conversation late on Thursday, were in consensus on necessity of evacuating these collaborators. There is a moral responsibility toward the Afghans who need protection, Macron said, while talking with Biden by telephone. The two presidents agreed on intensifying coordination at the humanitarian, political levels and the fight against terrorism in the foreseeable future, within framework of the G7 group. Western powers, namely the Americans, the Britons and Germans, have been evacuating military personnel and local civilians via Kabul airport since the Taliban took over power in the nation a few days ago. Scores of civilians have scrambled to the airport seeking to leave the country after the Taliban takeover. — Agencies
