Taliban largely seal off Kabul airport as airlift winds down

The Taliban deployed extra forces around Kabuls airport Saturday to prevent large crowds from gathering after a devastating suicide attack two days earlier as the massive USled airlift wound down ahead of an August 31 deadlineNew layers of checkpoints sprang up on roads leading to the airport some manned by uniformed Taliban fighters with Humvees and nightvision goggles captured from Afghan security forces Areas where large crowds of people have gathered over the past two weeks in hopes of fleeing the country following the Taliban takeover were largely emptyA suicide attack on Thursday by an Islamic State affiliate killed 169 Afghans and 13 US service members and there are concerns that the group which is far more radical than the Taliban could strike again Many Western nations have completed their evacuation operations ahead of Tuesdays deadline for the withdrawal of all US forcesAn Afghan who had worked as a translator for the US military said he was with a group of people with permission to leave who tried to reach the airport late Friday After passing through three checkpoints they were stopped at a fourth An argument ensued and the Taliban said they had been told by the Americans to only let US passportholders throughAlso read US says drone strike kills ISK plannerI am so hopeless for my future the man told The Associated Press after returning to Kabul speaking on condition of anonymity because of security concerns If the evacuation is over what will happen to usOn Saturday the Taliban fired warning shots and deployed some kind of coloured smoke on a road leading to the airport sending dozens of people scattering according to a video circulating online that was consistent with AP reportingMore than 100000 people have been safely evacuated through the Kabul airport according to the US but thousands more are struggling to leave and may not make it out by TuesdayIn Kabul itself hundreds of protesters including many civil servants gathered outside a bank while countless more lined up at cash machines The protesters said had not been paid for the past three to six months and were unable to withdraw cash ATM machines are still operating but withdrawals are limited to around 200 every 24 hoursThe economic crisis which predates the Taliban takeover earlier this month could give Western nations leverage as they urge Afghanistans new rulers to form a moderate inclusive government and allow people to leave after Aug 31Afghanistan is heavily dependent on international aid which covered around 7537 of the toppled Westernbacked governments budget The Taliban have said they want good relations with the international community and have promised a more moderate form of Islamic rule than when they last governed the country but many Afghans are deeply skepticalThe Taliban cannot access almost any of the central banks 9 billion in reserves most of which is held by the New York Federal Reserve The International Monetary Fund has also suspended the transfer of some 450 million Without a regular supply of US dollars the local currency is at risk of collapse which could send the price of basic goods soaringA UN agency meanwhile warned that a worsening drought threatens the livelihoods of more than 7 million people The Romebased Food and Agriculture Organization said Afghans are also suffering from the coronavirus pandemic and displacement from the recent fightingEarlier this month the UN World Food Program estimated that some 14 million people roughly one out of every three Afghans urgently need food assistanceThe FAO said that crucial help is needed ahead of the winter wheat planting season which begins in a month in many areas So far funding would cover assistance to only 110000 families of farmers while some 15 million need help the agency said adding that the current harvest is expected to be 2037 below last yearsPresident Joe Biden has said he will adhere to a selfimposed Aug 31 deadline for withdrawing all US forces The Taliban who control nearly the entire country outside Kabuls airport have rejected any extensionItaly said its final evacuation flight had landed in Rome but that it would work with the United Nations and countries bordering Afghanistan to continue helping Afghans who had worked with its military contingent to leave the countryOur imperative must be to not abandon the Afghan people especially women and children Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said Saturday He said 4890Afghans were evacuated by Italys air force on 87 flights but did not say how many others were still eligibleThe Taliban have encouraged Afghans to stay in the country pledging amnesty even to those who fought against them They have said commercial flights will resume after the US withdrawal but its unclear if airlines will be willing to offer serviceThe US and its allies have said they will continue providing humanitarian aid through the UN and other partners but any broader engagement iquest including development assistance is likely to hinge on whether the Taliban deliver on their promises of more moderate ruleWhen the Taliban last governed Afghanistan from 1996 until the USled invasion in 2001 they imposed a harsh interpretation of Islamic law Women were largely confined to their homes television and music were banned and suspected criminals were maimed or executed in publicThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever