Czech Republic withdraws diplomats from Kabul

The Czech Republic has withdrawn its diplomats from the Afghan capital to the city’s international airport, the Czech foreign minister, Jakub Kulhánek, said on Saturday. The two diplomats are currently under the protection of Czech military police at the airport.

Mr. Kulhánek announced the move following a meeting of the Czech government’s crisis committee, and said it had been taken in view of the serious security situation in Afghanistan; it followed consultations with the country’s allies and came at the recommendation of the Czech ambassador in Kabul.

The Czech foreign minister made no mention of the potential evacuation of Afghan interpreters who have served the Czech Army. Critics say the Prague government has been too slow to come to their aid.