[Epoch Times, August 18, 2021](Epoch Times reporter Li Xin comprehensive report) White House officials said on Tuesday (August 17) that the Taliban, which controls the Afghan regime, have notified the United States that they are preparing to try to escape through Kabul International Airport. Afghan civilians provide safe passage.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Tuesday that the Taliban had promised to release civilians trying to flee Afghanistan.
When faced with a series of questions from reporters about the Biden administration’s handling of the withdrawal of personnel from Afghanistan, Sullivan said that the Taliban had made the above-mentioned promise and “we intend to let them honor this promise.”
He added that the Taliban must prove to the international community what kind of regime they will eventually become.
The White House did not explain how it will ensure that the Taliban keep their promises.
Sullivan also said that the situation in the Afghan capital is chaotic, and it is too early to speculate whether the Taliban can form a government recognized by the United States.
The evacuation flight at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul was resumed on Tuesday. Sullivan said that the airport is safe, and the White House expects that once the flow of evacuees increases, the average US military transport plane taking off from Kabul can accommodate about 300 people.
Sullivan also admitted to receiving reports that when people tried to go through the checkpoint to the airport, they were intercepted, driven back and even beaten by the Taliban.
“We are solving these problems through channels with the Taliban. We are worried whether this situation will continue to develop in the next few days.” Sullivan said. He also added that most people passed the checkpoint smoothly.
U.S. officials said that as of Tuesday night, the U.S. military had evacuated more than 3,200 people from Afghanistan, including embassy staff, American expats, and citizens of Afghanistan and other countries. In addition, the United States has already received about 2,000 Afghans with special immigrant visas to the United States.
Major General Hank Taylor of the U.S. Joint Staff said at a press briefing at the Department of Defense on Tuesday that the U.S. military is planning to increase the number of evacuation flights in Kabul, with one flight per hour in the next few days. At this rate, it may be possible every day. As many as 5,000 to 9,000 people were evacuated.
Taylor also stated that seven U.S. C-17 transport planes flew out of Kabul on Monday, carrying 700 to 800 people, including 165 U.S. citizens, and the rest were special immigrant visa applicants and third-country citizens.
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