Tens of thousands of Afghans are struggling to leave the country, US warns more attacks could come; blast toll crosses 100
People board a French military transport aircraft in Kabul on August 26. Pics/AFP
Evacuation flights from Afghanistan resumed with new urgency on Friday, a day after two suicide bombings targeted the thousands of people desperately fleeing a Taliban takeover and killed more than 100. The U.S. warned more attacks could come ahead of the looming deadline for foreign troops to leave, ending America’s longest war. As the call to prayer echoed through Kabul along with the roar of departing planes, the anxious crowd outside the city’s airport was as large as ever.
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Dozens of Taliban members carrying heavy weapons patrolled one area about 500 meters (1,600 feet) from the facility to prevent anyone from venturing beyond. Thursday’s bombings near the airport killed at least 95 Afghans and 13 U.S. troops, Afghan and U.S. officials said, in the deadliest day for American forces in Afghanistan since August 2011.
People wait for a French military transport aircraft at the airport in Kabul, to fly to Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport
Two officials said 169 Afghans died, but a final count might take time, with many bodies dismembered or not yet identified. Scores more were wounded. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The U.S. said that more than 100,000 people have been safely evacuated from Kabul, but as many as 1,000 Americans and tens of thousands more Afghans are struggling to leave in one of history’s largest airlifts. Gen. Frank McKenzie, the U.S. Central Command chief overseeing the evacuation, said about 5,000 people awaited flights at the airfield on Thursday. And more continued to arrive Friday. The attacks led Jamshad to head to the airport in the morning with his wife and three small children, clutching an invitation to a Western country he didn’t want to name. This was his first attempt to leave.
People board a French military transport aircraft at the airport in Kabul, to fly to Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport, north of Paris, as part of the operation Apagan on August 26. Pic/AFP
“After the explosion I decided I would try because I am afraid now there will be more attacks, and I think now I have to leave,” said Jamshad, who like many Afghans uses only one name. Others acknowledged that going to the airport was risky but they had few choices. “Believe me, I think that an explosion will happen any second or minute, God is my witness, but we have lots of challenges in our lives, that is why we take the risk to come here and we overcome fear,” said Ahmadullah Herawi, also seeking to flee. But chances to help those hoping to flee are fading fast for many. Many American allies have ended their evacuation efforts, in part to give U.S. time to wrap up its own operations before getting 5,000 of its troops out by Tuesday. Spain, Germany and Sweden have halted evacuations. France will end its evacuation soon.
US officials naively gave Taliban ‘kill list’
US officials in Afghanistan naively handed the Taliban a ‘kill list’ to target Afghans who aided American forces, according to a media report. US officials gave the militant group a list of American citizens, green card holders and Afghan allies so they could be allowed to enter the Taliban-controlled perimeter around the airport in Kabul, according to Politico.
UK embassy leaves staff details behind
The UK’s defence chief promised Friday to “get to the bottom of a security lapse” that saw documents identifying Afghan staff members and job applicants left at the abandoned British Embassy in Kabul. Times of London reporter Anthony Loyd said he found the papers scattered on the ground as in the abandoned diplomatic district with a Taliban escort.
Biden vows to avenge US deaths
President Joe Biden is vowing to complete evacuation of American citizens and others from Afghanistan despite the deadly suicide bomb attack at Kabul airport. He promised to avenge the deaths of 13 U.S. service members killed in the attack, declaring to the extremists responsible: “We will hunt you down and make you pay.” Speaking from the White House, Biden said the Islamic State group’s Afghanistan affiliate was to blame for the Thursday attacks.
Pulitzer Board’s special citation
The Pulitzer Prize Board announced a special citation Friday for people in Afghanistan who risked their safety to help produce news stories and images from their war-torn country. “From staff and freelance correspondents to interpreters to drivers to hosts, courageous Afghan residents helped produce Pulitzer-winning and Pulitzer-worthy images and stories that have contributed to a wider understanding of profoundly tragic and complicated circumstances,” the board said. The citation comes with a $100,000 emergency relief grant to help journalists.
100,000
No. of people evacuated by USA
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