<p>NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday the alliance was surprised by the speed of the Taliban victory in Afghanistan but blamed Afghan leaders for the "tragedy".</p>.<p>"Ultimately, the Afghan political leadership failed to stand up to the Taliban and to achieve the peaceful solution that Afghans desperately wanted," he said.</p>.<p>"This failure of the Afghan leadership led to the tragedy we are witnessing today."</p>.<p>Stoltenberg told reporters that the alliance was now working to ensure the safety of NATO's remaining civilian personnel and Afghan employees in Afghanistan.</p>.<p>Taliban rebels overran the Afghan capital at the weekend after the Western-backed government and resistance from its US- and NATO-trained forces collapsed.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/how-the-taliban-engineered-afghanistans-political-collapse-1020755.html" target="_blank">How the Taliban engineered Afghanistan's 'political collapse'</a></strong></p>.<p>Staff from Western embassies have relocated to the city's airport, which is under the protection of a rear-guard of US troops deployed to cover the allied retreat.</p>.<p>"NATO has been working around the clock to maintain operations at the Kabul International Airport," Stoltenberg said, after a meeting of senior NATO diplomats from alliance members.</p>.<p>"Around 800 NATO civilian personnel have remained to provide key functions under very challenging circumstances, including air traffic control, fuel and communications."</p>.<p>"Let me also thank the military forces of NATO allies -- in particular Turkey, the United States and United Kingdom -- for a vital role in securing the airport.</p>.<p>Stoltenberg said NATO's senior civilian representative in Afghanistan, Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo, would remain at the airport "to coordinate and facilitate the evacuation" of NATO staff and Afghan employees.</p>.<p>"The Taliban must respect and facilitate the safe departure all those who wish to leave the airport and, as well, roads and border crossings must be open," he said.</p>.<p>"All Afghan men, women and children deserve to live in safety and dignity."</p>
<p>NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday the alliance was surprised by the speed of the Taliban victory in Afghanistan but blamed Afghan leaders for the "tragedy".</p>.<p>"Ultimately, the Afghan political leadership failed to stand up to the Taliban and to achieve the peaceful solution that Afghans desperately wanted," he said.</p>.<p>"This failure of the Afghan leadership led to the tragedy we are witnessing today."</p>.<p>Stoltenberg told reporters that the alliance was now working to ensure the safety of NATO's remaining civilian personnel and Afghan employees in Afghanistan.</p>.<p>Taliban rebels overran the Afghan capital at the weekend after the Western-backed government and resistance from its US- and NATO-trained forces collapsed.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/how-the-taliban-engineered-afghanistans-political-collapse-1020755.html" target="_blank">How the Taliban engineered Afghanistan's 'political collapse'</a></strong></p>.<p>Staff from Western embassies have relocated to the city's airport, which is under the protection of a rear-guard of US troops deployed to cover the allied retreat.</p>.<p>"NATO has been working around the clock to maintain operations at the Kabul International Airport," Stoltenberg said, after a meeting of senior NATO diplomats from alliance members.</p>.<p>"Around 800 NATO civilian personnel have remained to provide key functions under very challenging circumstances, including air traffic control, fuel and communications."</p>.<p>"Let me also thank the military forces of NATO allies -- in particular Turkey, the United States and United Kingdom -- for a vital role in securing the airport.</p>.<p>Stoltenberg said NATO's senior civilian representative in Afghanistan, Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo, would remain at the airport "to coordinate and facilitate the evacuation" of NATO staff and Afghan employees.</p>.<p>"The Taliban must respect and facilitate the safe departure all those who wish to leave the airport and, as well, roads and border crossings must be open," he said.</p>.<p>"All Afghan men, women and children deserve to live in safety and dignity."</p>