New Zealand has joined an international statement on the situation in Afghanistan, calling on the Taliban to allow Afghans and other citizens to depart if they wish.
"Given the deteriorating security situation, we support, are working to secure, and call on all parties to respect and facilitate, the safe and orderly departure of foreign nationals and Afghans who wish to leave the country," the joint statement reads.
"Those in positions of power and authority across Afghanistan bear responsibility - and accountability - for the protection of human life and property, and for the immediate restoration of security and civil order.
"Afghans and international citizens who wish to depart must be allowed to do so; roads, airports and border crossing must remain open, and calm must be maintained.
"The Afghan people deserve to live in safety, security and dignity. We in the international community stand ready to assist them."
The joint statement was shared by Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne.
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The joint statement is signed by:
Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta , Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Cyprus, Romania, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Togo, Tonga, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Ukraine, and Yemen.
The United States has authorised the emergency deployment of 1000 additional troops to assist the evacuation of their people and allies.
The US Department of State and Department of Defense released a joint statement earlier, showing how they intend to take over the civilian airport in Kabul.
"At present we are completing a series of steps to secure the Hamid Karzai International Airport to enable the safe departure of US personnel from Afghanistan via civilian and military flights."
The Government last week signalled plans to provide some Afghans with a "pathway" to New Zealand. It would be a revisit of a 2012 policy, which oversaw 140 Afghans - mostly interpreters employed by the Defence Force and their family members - repatriated.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told The AM Show on Monday Cabinet will decide what support could be offered to the likes of interpreters. The Government is also working with at least 47 New Zealand residents on evacuation plans.
It comes after the Taliban - listed as a terrorist entity in New Zealand - captured the capital Afghan city of Kabul, after already claiming victory over most of the country.
Hundreds of thousands of Afghans have been driven from their homes so far due to the conflict, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR - fleeing not only the fighting but the prospect of the Islamist regime that ruled before 2001 being reimposed.
During their 1996-2001 rule, women could not work and punishments such as stoning, whipping and hanging were administered.
