“My concern is that the country is on the brink of collapse and that collapse is happening faster than we think,” Per Olsson Fridh said in Dubai, where he warned that the downturn in the economy could provide an environment for terrorist groups to thrive. .
The European Union of 27 countries, including Sweden, has increased humanitarian aid to Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power, but has stopped its development aid, a move taken by many other countries and the World Bank.
The Red Cross on Friday called on the international community to work with the Taliban, warning that aid groups alone could only provide temporary solutions.
Sweden was exploring the possibility of increasing its support through Afghan civil society groups to guarantee basic services, Fridh said, but other countries had to be convinced that it was possible to do so without legitimizing the new Taliban rulers.
However, the country will not channel development money through the Taliban, he said. The movement has faced international criticism for failing to respect certain rights since it returned to power, such as allowing girls access to education.
Most countries have closed their embassies in Kabul and some have moved them to Qatar, the Gulf state that is a key interlocutor between the West and the Taliban.
European countries are not prepared to reopen their embassies in Kabul, Fridh said, adding that more diplomatic missions will be opened in Qatar before there is a return to Afghanistan.
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