18 minutes agoUS says it controls Kabul airport, while city falls to Taliban
Periskopi(5 years ago)
(5 years ago)American officials, who are watching the movement of Taliban fighters in Kabul's Afghan capital, say American forces enjoyed controlling the American Embassy and the city's international airport, even though the leading American diplomat named the situation “disturbing”. Taliban leaders announced victory Sunday after a lightning offensive while the forces of [...]
Taliban leaders announced victory Sunday after a lightning offensive, as the recent Afghan security forces left, leaving the country's capital gates open to rebel forces.
But despite claims by the Taliban that their fighters have taken control of parts of the capital, an American official told Voice of America that the US embassy itself, as well as Hamid Karzai International Airport, were safe.
Our “Forces continue to look firmly at the airport and embassy“, an official told the Voice of America under anonymity.
However, it seems the US has no intention of ensuring the safety of its embassy building in Kabul for a long time.
An embassy official confirmed to Voice of America that the staff is moving to a safe place at the airport to help oversee flights abroad and be ready to evacuate.
Meanwhile, the embassy also warned that the security situation was rapidly changing and that American citizens in Kabul should find a safe place after reports that the airport was being involved in the fire.
Earlier, the top U.S. diplomat named Afghanistan's takeover by the Taliban group, as well as the inevitable collapse in their hands of Kabul, “as an extremely sad development”. He said American forces are working to get out of that country, all Americans as well as Afghans who worked for the United States.
State Secretary Antony Blinken said on Sunday that American staff security -- some of which are still in the embassy, as well as Afghan citizens who have assisted the American Army -- was “primary task force”. He dismissed criticism that Washington was not prepared for the rapid decline of Afghan forces.
The United States will do everything they can, as long as they can, to get them out (from Afghanistan) if that's what they want”, Blinken told CNN television network.
“We didn't ask the Taliban for anything“, Blinken added. “We have told them (the Alebans) that if they interfere with our personnel, in our operations, as we continue with the withdrawal, they will receive a quick and decisive reply“, he added.
On Sunday, an American official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the situation, told the Voice of America that the evacuation of the American Embassy to Kabul “is under way”.
The official also said that thousands of other American troops are arriving in Afghanistan and that they have the situation under “control” both the area around the embassy and the Hamid Karzai International Airport, located outside Kabul.
Another senior administration official told Voice of America on Sunday that President Joe Biden, who is spending the last few days in Camp David, has been updated with recent developments from Afghanistan.
The president has spoken with members of his National Security team about the situation in Afghanistan and will continue to receive updates and to be informed throughout the day“, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
On Saturday, Beden authorized an additional 1,000 troops who will go to Kabul to help secure American facilities and personnel, as well as Afghans who have worked for the US.
A total of about 4,000 American troops are expected to land in Kabul in the coming days, strengthening the military presence there that the last days had been reduced to 650 troops.
