Image source,PA Media
Since the past weekend, the evacuation of Kabul Airport has been intensified.
US President Joe Biden stated that due to the growing threat from the Islamic State organization in Afghanistan, the United States is “step-by-step” to implement the August 31 withdrawal deadline. However, some US allies have called for this deadline to be extended in order to assume the “moral responsibility” to the Afghan people.
Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, fell into the hands of the Taliban nine days ago. At least 70,700 people have left Kabul by plane. The Taliban have issued a warning that they will not allow the extension of the August 31 evacuation period.
Biden said that the evacuation had to be stopped soon, and the international community would make judgments on this organization based on the actions of the Taliban.
He said that the risk of an attack by the Islamic State is serious. The longer the United States stays in Afghanistan, the “higher the risk of an attack by the Islamic State.”
BBC reporter Lyse Doucet saw in Kabul that while the Afghan people crowded at the airport were eager to evacuate, some chose to return to their hometowns already occupied by the Taliban.
G7 discusses Afghanistan
Biden made the remarks while attending an online meeting of leaders of the Group of Seven (G7). The parties attending the meeting to discuss the issue of Afghanistan included Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union. Britain and other allies previously urged the United States to stay in Afghanistan until after August 31 to arrange more relief flights.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who presided over the meeting, stated that Britain will continue to evacuate personnel “until the last minute.” He also urged the Taliban to allow Afghans to leave the country after the deadline.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated that the leaders of the Group of Seven countries have “agreed that we have an ethical responsibility to help the Afghan people and provide assistance within our capacity when conditions permit.”
Image source,Reuters
Since the past weekend, the evacuation of Kabul Airport has been intensified.
There are currently nearly 6,000 American soldiers and more than 1,000 British soldiers maintaining security at Kabul Airport. They are also responsible for organizing the evacuation of foreigners and qualified Afghans.
NATO (Nato) member countries France and Turkey also sent smaller teams to the local area.
The air evacuation operation is stepping up. More than 21,000 people have been evacuated since August 22.
Other developments in the situation in Afghanistan include:
- The World Bank suspended its financial support for projects in Afghanistan. The reason given was that it was concerned about the impact of the Taliban takeover on the country’s development prospects, especially on women.
- The World Health Organization has warned that the supply of medical supplies in Afghanistan will only last for a week.The organization stated that due to restrictions at Kabul Airport, attempts to deliver medical supplies to the country have been blocked.
- The accommodation platform Airbnb (AirBnB) promises to provide free temporary shelters to 20,000 refugees around the world in order to help refugees resettlement.
Image source,PA
Afghans are waiting to board the British plane.
The CIA director reportedly secretly met the Taliban
Several American media reported that the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William Burns secretly met with Taliban leader Mullah Baradar in Campbell on August 23.
Neither the Taliban nor the CIA confirmed the content of the report.
The source disclosed the news to the “New York Times”, “Washington Post”, The Associated Press and National Public Radio (NPR), but did not give too many details.
If the report is true, this will be the highest level of contact with the United States since the Taliban occupied Kabul on August 15.
Image source,Marcus Yam
On August 20, in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, a boy was selling Taliban flags.
“Washington Post” reported that the discussion between the two may include a deadline for the US military to end its airlift mission.
On August 24, the Taliban stated that they would no longer allow Afghans to go to the airport and would not extend the deadline for the U.S. withdrawal.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the chaos at the airport puts “people in danger of losing their lives”. But it is not clear whether this means that Afghans with complete travel procedures will also not be able to leave the country.
On August 22, two U.S. congressmen flew into Kabul without making an announcement to the outside world, causing strong protests on social media. According to the Associated Press, Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton and Republican Congressman Peter Meijer stayed at Kabul Airport for several hours.
A source told the Associated Press that officials from the US State Department, the Department of Defense and the White House were angry about the visit because the two did not coordinate with diplomats or military commanders.