Finland's Kabul Evacuation: Diplomat Carried $40,000 Cash to Secure Departures

Finland's consul general in Kabul received a direct call from the foreign minister to lead an evacuation as the Taliban took the city in August 2021, carrying $40,000 in cash to facilitate the operation. The account details a chaotic, improvised effort amid the fall of Kabul, highlighting the ad hoc nature of Western evacuations. This retrospective report underscores the operational challenges and diplomatic improvisation during the withdrawal, but offers no new developments.