Spain announced on Friday that it has started evacuating its remaining citizens in Afghanistan, as well as its embassy staff in Kabul and their Afghan colleagues, in light of the rapid progress made by the Taliban across the country. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, in a statement, indicated the "beginning of the repatriation of embassy personnel and Spaniards who remained in the country, as well as Afghan individuals and their families who worked alongside us." He stated that "Spain is prepared for any eventuality, including the evacuation of the embassy if necessary."
The ministry clarified that in addition to those at the embassy, there were still six Spanish citizens in Afghanistan as of Friday. The statement noted that the ministry is working with other ministries "to coordinate the transfer of Afghan citizens who cooperated on military missions and Spanish cooperation projects in Afghanistan." Since 2014, Spain has granted refugee status to 55 Afghan interpreters and their relatives, according to the Ministry of the Interior. A source from the Ministry of the Interior told AFP that the ministry "will consider" any requests for international protection made by Afghan interpreters and others who worked with Spanish forces after they arrive in Spain.
A source from the Ministry of Defense informed AFP that Madrid is examining "the possibility of bringing interpreters and others who worked with Spanish forces" in Afghanistan to Spain, although no specific timeline was given. Spain withdrew its last troops from Afghanistan in May 2021 after a mission lasting nearly two decades, during which approximately 100 Spanish soldiers were killed. The United States and other countries such as the United Kingdom, Norway, and Denmark have announced plans to evacuate their embassy staff and nationals from Afghanistan.
