The Diplomat
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, and Interior, Fernando Grande Marlaska, chaired yesterday the ceremony to pay tribute to the National Police officers who participated in the evacuation mission from Kabul after the military victory of the Taliban in Afghanistan.
During the ceremony, which was attended by the Director General of Police, Francisco Pardo, two policemen from the Special Operations Group (GEO) and the Police Intervention Unit (UIP) handed over the Spanish flag of the Embassy, which they were guarding from Kabul and that, from now on, will be guarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In his speech, Albares highlighted the role played by the security forces in Embassies and Consulates around the world. “You make me proud as a minister, but above all as a Spaniard,” he said. “You represent the commitment and generosity of our society,” added the minister, who received the flag from the hands of an officer. “You were the hope in the midst of chaos,” declared Grande-Marlaska. “Today hundreds of men, women and children are starting a new life thanks to you,” he added.
“Our profession is like that, arriving first and leaving last, that’s why we made the decision to stay in Kabul,” said José Antonio, a police officer, during the tribute ceremony. About twenty officers of the National Police (called “M. Francisco, Daniel, Pelayo, V. Manuel, Carlos, J. Juan, J. Carlos, M. Esteban, J. Luis, U. Ángel, Fernando, J. Antonio, Luis, J. Ignacio, Ismael, Jaime, J. Manuel, Francisco, Pedro José, Tomás, Jorge, Gabi”, as reported yesterday by the Ministry of Interior through Twitter) participated since mid-August in the evacuation work of the Afghan collaborators of the Army and the diplomats and other Spanish citizens present in Afghanistan.
The agents, who were in charge of locating the Afghan personnel in an environment of maximum insecurity, remained in Kabul until August 31, the deadline imposed by the Taliban to conclude the evacuation of all the personnel to Spanish territory. The Spanish Police Confederation (CEP) has asked the Directorate General of Police to decorate the members of the UIP and GEO involved in the operation.
