United States Military Main Basic William Taylor, with the US navy’s Joint Workers for Regional Operations, informed a information briefing that greater than 10,000 folks had been at Kabul airport ready to be evacuated from Afghanistan.
The Pentagon claimed it evacuated some 19,000 folks prior to now 24 hours. Greater than 70,000 folks, foreigners and Afghans, have been evacuated since August 14, the day earlier than the Taliban swept into Kabul.
On Thursday, Australian Minister for Overseas Affairs Marise Payne warned that there’s a excessive risk of a terrorist assault close to the airport and urged its residents and people with a visa for Australia to depart the realm.
Australia has been evacuating its residents and visa holders for greater than per week from Kabul airport, the place Canberra had urged folks to journey so as to be prepared for transport.
“There may be an ongoing and really excessive risk of a terrorist assault,” Payne informed reporters in Canberra.
The warning heightens the danger that scores of Afghans holding visas for Australia may very well be left behind as Canberra readies to finish its evacuation programme.
In the meantime, 10 million kids in Afghanistan are in determined want of humanitarian help, UNICEF Afghanistan warns because the United Nations’ World Meals Programme (WFP) seeks $200m in meals help.
David Beasley, government director of WFP, stated 14 million folks – one-third of the Afghan inhabitants – face meals insecurity “due to a number of years of drought, battle, [and] financial deterioration, compounded by COVID”.
The World Financial institution has suspended help to Afghanistan, freezing lots of of tens of millions of {dollars} in funding. It has supplied $5.3bn since 2002 and has 27 tasks there. Final week, the Worldwide Financial Fund blocked the supply of funds.
Listed below are the most recent updates:
14 minutes in the past (02:32 GMT)
Southern California college students and households stranded in Afghanistan
A number of dozen schoolchildren and grownup family, all Afghan refugees newly resettled in California, ended up stranded in Afghanistan after touring again to their homeland over the summer time to go to family members, in accordance with a Reuters report.
Six households consisting of about 16 adults and 24 college students from the Cajon Valley Union College District within the San Diego suburb of El Cajon had been amongst 1000’s clamoring to depart Afghanistan amid the Taliban takeover as US troops started pulling out, in accordance with college officers.
Michael Serban, head of the district’s Household & Group Engagement (FACE) programme for immigrant college students, stated one of many six stranded households – comprising 4 college students, a 2-year-old youngster and two adults – had since made it out and returned safely to El Cajon.
The destiny of the 5 different households was not instantly identified, he stated.
Serban and district spokesman Howard Shen stated college officers had been working with two members of California’s US congressional delegation – Consultant Darrell Issa and Senator Alex Padilla – to contact the lacking households and get them again to the US.
“We don’t have any operational particulars,” Serban informed Reuters information company. “For the security of the households, they only tell us they’re engaged on it.”
Over 80,000 folks have been evacuated from Afghanistan since August 14, however big crowds stay exterior Kabul airport hoping to flee the specter of reprisals and repression from the Taliban [Donald Allen/US Air Force via AFP]
30 minutes in the past (02:16 GMT)
Australia urges folks to depart Kabul airport space on terrorism risk
There’s a excessive risk of a terrorist assault close to the airport in Kabul, Australian Minister for Overseas Affairs Marise Payne warned on Thursday, as Canberra urged its residents and people with a visa for Australia to depart the realm.
“There may be an ongoing and really excessive risk of a terrorist assault,” Reuters information company quoted Payne as saying from Canberra.
The warning heightens the danger that scores of Afghans holding visas for Australia may very well be left behind as Canberra readies to finish its evacuation programme.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has beforehand stated Australia will unlikely be capable of evacuate everybody, declined to touch upon whether or not Australia would proceed flights as much as the Aug 31 deadline the Taliban insists have to be adhered to.
1 hour in the past (01:21 GMT)
South Korea evacuates Afghan employees and their relations
A South Korean navy airplane is heading again to Seoul on Thursday, carrying Afghans evacuated from the war-torn nation, as a part of an operation to carry a complete of 391 Afghan employees and and their relations.
In accordance with Yonhap information company, the KC-330 transport plane took off from an airport within the Pakistani capital of Islamabad early on Thursday, and is anticipated to land at Incheon Worldwide Airport, west of Seoul on Thursday afternoon.
“All however 13 have departed on a KC330,” a overseas ministry official informed Yonhap on situation of anonymity, suggesting that 378 Afghans are on the airplane. “They had been unable to board the airplane attributable to an absence of seats.”
The 13 stay in Islamabad and shall be transported to South Korea on a separate airplane, the official stated.
Of the full, almost half, or some 180, are underneath the age of 10, together with 100 infants, a defence ministry official informed Yonhap, including that the evacuees are comprised of 76 households.
5 hours in the past (21:20 GMT)
US navy unable to rescue stranded Individuals exterior Kabul: Pentagon
The USA navy doesn’t have the potential to rescue stranded US residents and Afghans who need to depart the nation however are unable to get to Kabul, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby stated.
“I don’t need to set the expectation that we’re going to have the ability to fly all around the nation to pick-up folks,” Kirby informed reporters.
The Pentagon has confirmed the US navy used helicopters to airlift folks into the airport on three events and the US authorities is receiving requires assist from others.
Amongst them are a bunch of 40 Afghans from San Diego, California, who’ve been unable to succeed in Kabul, in accordance with the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper.
The group consists of 24 college students from the Cajon Valley the place college district Superintendent David Miyashiro stated the Afghans had been residing underneath particular visas for the US navy and had been visiting household earlier than the deliberate US withdrawal.
“There’s a restrict to the potential now we have right here,” Kirby stated. “However after we may also help, and if we want rotary-wing plane to assist, we’ll do it.”
6 hours in the past (20:52 GMT)
Turkish navy begins Afghanistan evacuations
Turkey’s navy has begun evacuating from Afghanistan, the defence ministry says, after the Taliban had requested Ankara for technical assist to run Kabul airport, however insisted it withdraws its navy by the tip of August.
The Reuters information company reported on Wednesday that the Taliban desires Ankara to withdraw its navy totally by the end-August deadline, regardless that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s authorities had stated for months it may maintain a presence at Kabul airport if requested after the Taliban seized management of Afghanistan.
Learn extra right here.
6 hours in the past (20:43 GMT)
Belgium ends its evacuation flights from Kabul
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo says the nation has ended its evacuation flights carrying folks from the Afghan capital of Kabul to Pakistan.
De Croo tweeted that “the federal authorities took the choice to carry an finish to evacuations from Kabul airport given the evolution of the state of affairs in Afghanistan and in settlement with its European companions.”
He says 5 flights operated between Kabul and Islamabad, and all personnel concerned within the operation and people evacuated at the moment are in Pakistan.
Folks disembark from a Belgian navy airplane, after being evacuated from Afghanistan, because it arrives at Melsbroek Army Airport in Melsbroek, Belgium, Wednesday, August 25, 2021 [Olivier Matthys/AP Photo]
6 hours in the past (20:35 GMT)
White Home was not conscious of US lawmakers’ go to to Kabul
The White Home was not conscious of two US congress members’ go to to Kabul earlier than their departure, press secretary Jen Psaki stated.
Representatives Seth Moulton, a Democrat, and Peter Meijer, a Republican, had used constitution planes designated for evacuees to fly out and in of Kabul.
“Our steerage continues to be to all Americans, together with elected officers: This isn’t the time to journey to Afghanistan,” Psaki stated.
7 hours in the past (20:16 GMT)
Taliban’s actions, not phrases to find out Afghanistan course of: Erdogan
Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated the Taliban’s actions and never phrases will decide the long run Afghanistan course of.
Addressing ambassadors at a ceremony marking the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Malazgirt, which marks the start of the primary Turkish settlements in Anatolia, Erdogan stated the Turkish authorities approaches the messages from Taliban leaders with cautious optimism for now.
Underlining the significance of achieving stability in Afghanistan, Erdogan stated Ankara continues to be in “shut dialogue” with all events within the nation with this function.
8 hours in the past (19:09 GMT)
Regional nations engaged in ‘lively effort’ to maintain airport open: Blinken
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated there may be an “lively effort” by regional nations to play a task in maintaining the airport in Kabul open after the departure of US troops, set for August 31.
“That’s taking place very actively proper now,” he informed reporters, with out figuring out the nations concerned within the effort.He stated the US and the worldwide group have a “robust curiosity” in making certain a functioning airport in Afghanistan “primarily for the aim of creating certain that anybody who desires to depart can depart”.
The Taliban has additionally indicated that it desires to maintain the airport open, Blinken added.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks about Afghanistan throughout a media briefing on the State Division, Wednesday, August 25, 2021, in Washington [Alex Brandon/Pool/AP Photo]
8 hours in the past (19:00 GMT)
Most US residents seeking to depart have been evacuated: Blinken
The USA has evacuated a minimum of 4,500 Americans from Afghanistan since August 14 – nearly all of Individuals seeking to depart the nation, stated Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Blinken stated the Division of State initially assessed that 6,000 US residents had been searching for to evacuate the nation, however the quantity may very well be “considerably decrease”.
“We’ve been in direct contact with roughly 500 further Individuals and supplied particular directions on methods to get to the airport safely,” Blinken informed reporters.
As for the remaining 1,000, the highest US diplomat stated the State Division is “aggressively reaching out to them a number of instances a day” to provide them directions to succeed in the airport.
8 hours in the past (18:32 GMT)
Italy evacuates 1,000 Afghans in 24 hours: protection ministry
Italian navy planes have transported almost 1,000 Afghans out of Kabul within the final 24 hours, bringing to 4,400 the variety of Afghan nationals who labored with Italian establishments and charities flown to security. Italy’s Ministry of Defence made the announcement.
A complete of three,959 Afghans have been flown onward to Rome through the air bridge, comprised of 63 flights since June.
An Afghan lady waits after arriving at Fiumicino airport in Rome, Italy [File: Italian Ministry of Defence/Handout via Reuters]
9 hours in the past (18:07 GMT)
Turkey begins evacuating troops from Afghanistan
Turkey has began evacuating its troops from Afghanistan, the Ministry of Nationwide Defence stated.
“Turkish Armed Forces is returning to our homeland with the pleasure of efficiently fulfilling the duty entrusted to them,” a ministry assertion stated.
Since 2002, the Turkish Armed Forces have operated in Afghanistan underneath UN, NATO, and bilateral agreements to contribute to the peace, welfare, and stability of the Afghan folks, the assertion stated.
9 hours in the past (17:34 GMT)
Pakistan PM Khan and Russian President Putin converse on Afghanistan battle
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan have held a phone dialog on the best way ahead in Afghanistan right now, the Pakistani premier’s workplace stated in an announcement.
“The Prime Minister [Imran Khan] pressured {that a} peaceable, safe and steady Afghanistan was vitally essential for Pakistan and regional stability,” learn the Pakistani assertion.
“Moreover making certain security, safety and safety of rights of Afghans, an inclusive political settlement was the easiest way ahead. The Prime Minister underscored that the worldwide group should keep positively engaged in assist of the folks of Afghanistan, to assist deal with humanitarian wants and guarantee financial sustenance.”
Putin’s workplace didn’t instantly launch an announcement following the talks. The dialog comes after Putin held “an in-depth dialogue” with Chinese language President Xi Jinping earlier.
Afghan folks wait on the Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan to go to Pakistan after the Taliban’s takeover on August 24, 2021, in Torkham, Pakistan [Muhammed Semih Ugurlu/Anadolu Agency]
10 hours in the past (17:11 GMT)
Afghans who labored with Lithuania arrive in Vilnius
Two planes carrying Afghan interpreters who earlier labored with Lithuanian forces in Afghanistan and their households touched down in Lithuania.
A complete of 170 folks have been evacuated to the Baltic nation from Kabul by way of Warsaw, in Poland.
In Norway, two planes from Afghanistan with a complete of 278 passengers landed in Oslo, the Norwegian information company NTB reported.
10 hours in the past (16:38 GMT)
US forces are speaking evacuee credentials to Taliban checkpoints: Pentagon
United States navy commanders in Kabul are speaking often with Taliban authorities in regards to the particular credentials folks have to get into the airport to depart the town, Pentagon officers stated.
“We’ve been very clear with Taliban leaders about what credentials we would like them to just accept. It’s Americans, SIV candidates and weak Afghans,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby stated, referencing the Particular Immigrant Visa (SIV) programme for Afghans who labored for the US.
“We’ve shared what the right credentials are and by and huge – not saying it’s been excellent – however by and huge, the those who now we have made clear to the Taliban we need to have entry by way of the checkpoints, have been in a position to get by way of,” Kirby stated.
There have been stories of individuals with credentials being blocked from the airport, and the Pentagon has acknowledged sending helicopters on three events to extract folks from the town.
10 hours in the past (16:18 GMT)
Taliban agrees to let Afghans depart after Aug 31: German envoy
Germany stated it has obtained assurance from a Taliban negotiator that Afghans who’ve the proper paperwork will nonetheless be allowed to depart Afghanistan after america’ withdrawal deadline on August 31.
Germany’s envoy Markus Potzel stated on Twitter that he had met with Taliban deputy chief negotiator Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, who “assured me that Afghans with authorized paperwork will proceed to have the chance to journey on business flights after August 31”.
Berlin has stated that the present navy operation carried out by NATO allies to evacuate Afghans in want of safety can not proceed as soon as the Individuals pull out.
11 hours in the past (15:55 GMT)
US navy creating ‘choices’ for extending timeline in Kabul: Pentagon
The USA navy is constant to organize for a full withdrawal of US forces from the airport in Kabul by August 31, however is creating “choices” to stay longer if needed, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby stated.
“One among our essential jobs is to make it possible for the president has choices, and as he made clear yesterday, he desires to see this mission full by the tip of the month,” Kirby informed reporters at a Pentagon information convention.
“We’re nonetheless working in direction of that objective, however we shall be drafting up potential what we name within the navy ‘branches and sequels,’” Kirby stated.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby [File: Andrew Harnik/AP Photo]
11 hours in the past (15:44 GMT)
Poland halts Afghan airlift over security considerations as US deadline looms
Poland is ending its evacuations from Afghanistan, in accordance with an official, making it one of many first Western nations to halt operations serving to folks flee the Taliban takeover as a full US withdrawal looms.
Marcin Przydacz, a Polish deputy overseas minister, stated {that a} group taken from Kabul, and now in Uzbekistan, was the final group evacuated by Poland.
Learn extra right here.
11 hours in the past (15:22 GMT)
US has airlifted 19,000 folks from Kabul in final 24 hours: common
The USA navy has airlifted 19,000 folks from the airport in Kabul prior to now 24 hours because the tempo of the US evacuation effort elevated, US Military Basic Hank Taylor informed reporters at a Pentagon media briefing.
There have been 11,200 folks evacuated on 42 US navy flights and seven,800 transported on charters and by different nations, Taylor stated. Presently, there are about 10,000 folks on the airport contained in the safety perimeter awaiting departure, he stated.
“It is a snapshot in time and, as we stated yesterday, will proceed to alter as extra persons are in a position to come on to the airfield and as flights depart,” Taylor stated.
On this picture supplied by the US Marine Corps, a Marine soldier with the twenty fourth Marine Expeditionary Unit walks with a household throughout ongoing evacuations at Hamid Karzai Worldwide Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan on August 24, 2021 [Sgt. Samuel Ruiz/US Marine Corps via AP Photo]
11 hours in the past (15:17 GMT)
‘Unusual interval’ for the Taliban: Afghan media head
The top of Afghanistan’s largest impartial broadcaster, Tolo Information Saad Mohseni, stated “The longer term is unsure as a result of now we have no readability when it comes to what the Taliban will do with the media, with girls at work, schooling of girls.”
Mohseni, talking on Fox Information, stated it’s a “unusual interval” for the Taliban, who should win over the political opposition, consolidate their rule over the nation and win hearts and minds.
“Most essential of all, they should persuade folks such as you, internationals, that they’re folks you are able to do enterprise with,” he stated.
Due to that, Mosheni famous, the Taliban could behave very in another way right now than they do in six months. “This without end conflict that’s ending for you goes to proceed for us,” he stated.
12 hours in the past (15:03 GMT)
Scenes of ‘chaos’, ‘panic-stricken’ folks at Kabul airport: AJ correspondent
Because the evacuation deadline of August 31 nears, scenes of “chaos” and “panic-stricken folks” may be witnessed at Kabul airport, Al Jazeera’s Charles Stratford reported.
“We had a staff on the southern gate of the airport a few hours in the past. They describe a scene of chaos. The Taliban are doing their finest to maintain folks again, firing within the air, utilizing water hoses and tear fuel,” he stated.
“One girl informed the staff she had all of the paperwork she was legit in her plight to get out in accordance with the form of necessities that the US and NATO are needing. However she stated two issues are being made tough by many people who find themselves going. They’re simply taking a punt … so determined to get out, regardless that they don’t have the paperwork. However she stated that she was keen to take a bullet or danger taking a bullet if it meant she may get on one in all these planes.”
On this photograph supplied by the US Marine Corps, Canadian coalition forces are seen throughout an evacuation at Hamid Karzai Worldwide Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan on August 24, 2021 [Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla/US Marine Corps via AP Photo]
12 hours in the past (14:59 GMT)
US: Pelosi says congress members journey to Afghanistan ‘not…a good suggestion’
Democratic United States Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi has stated a secret journey to Afghanistan by two US legislators – a Democratic and Republican – was “lethal critical”.
“It was not, in my opinion, a good suggestion,” Pelosi stated.
“We don’t need anyone to assume that this was a good suggestion and they need to attempt to comply with go well with.”
Representatives Seth Moulton and Peter Meijer flew out and in on constitution plane and had been on the bottom on the Kabul airport for a number of hours on Tuesday. They’ve since sought to deflect criticism that their journey diverted sources from evacuees.
12 hours in the past (14:39 GMT)
ISIS may very well be an issue for Taliban in coming days: Analyst
An educational and analyst on the College School London believes there may be “definitely a risk” for ISIS (ISIL) to be a risk to the Taliban within the upcoming days.
“ISIS has been lively in Afghanistan for over 5 years now; they’re thought-about a rival of the Taliban, that you’ve basically been at conflict with preliminary battles in 2015 and once more in 2017,” Julie Norman informed Al Jazeera.
She stated ISIS may be anticipated to make the most of what’s a “safety vacuum” in Afghanistan.
“They are going to be attempting to make the most of the Taliban needing to maneuver on to governance of attempting to consolidate energy in several methods, they usually’ll be seeking to fill that vacuum with personnel on the bottom, in addition to attempting to usher in fighters and likewise sources from Syria and Iraq,” she stated.
12 hours in the past (14:27 GMT)
Afghan caught in Belarus border camp dangers dying: charity
A 52-year-old Afghan lady caught in a makeshift migrant camp on the border between Belarus and Poland dangers dying with out pressing assist, a charity serving to migrants informed AFP information company.
The group of some 30 folks has been caught on the European Union’s japanese frontier for greater than two weeks, with Polish border guards and troopers stopping them from coming into to make asylum claims.
Whereas Poland has flown in lots of of evacuees from Afghanistan in latest days, the federal government has dominated out permitting in migrants who it says are being pressured throughout the border by the Belarusian regime in a “hybrid assault” on the EU.
Migrants wait in an space between the borders of Belarus and Poland close to the village of Usnarz Gorny, Poland, on Augugst 20, 2021 [Michal Kosc/AP Photo]
13 hours in the past (13:57 GMT)
Bulgaria welcomes 70 Afghan refugees
Bulgaria will grant asylum to some 70 Afghan residents and their households, the nation’s caretaker Prime Minister Stefan Yanev informed reporters.
He stated the Afghan nationals have beforehand labored on the Bulgarian embassy in Kabul or inside the Bulgarian navy missions in Afghanistan.
He didn’t elaborate in regards to the timing and the route of the evacuation.
13 hours in the past (13:27 GMT)
Mexico receives fleeing Afghan media employees together with from NY Occasions
Mexico obtained 124 media employees and their relations from Afghanistan, together with New York Occasions journalists, the federal government stated , as folks flee after the Taliban group’s takeover.
They arrived at Mexico Metropolis’s worldwide airport the place Overseas Minister Marcelo Ebrard waited to greet them.
“Mexico has determined to assist human rights functions for refuge, asylum and humanitarian visas for folks in Afghanistan who’ve requested to have this humanitarian situation,” Ebrard stated.
14 hours in the past (12:46 GMT)
Putin, Xi comply with collectively fight Afghanistan ‘threats’
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese language counterpart Xi Jinping have agreed their nations will step up efforts to counter “threats” rising from Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover, the Kremlin says.
In a telephone name, the 2 leaders “expressed their readiness to step up efforts to fight threats of terrorism and drug trafficking coming from the territory of Afghanistan,” the Kremlin stated in an announcement.
Additionally they spoke of the “significance of building peace” in Afghanistan and “stopping the unfold of instability to adjoining areas”.
14 hours in the past (12:30 GMT)
Pakistani FM discusses Afghanistan with Uzbekistan counterpart
Pakistani Overseas Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi is constant his four-country tour of Afghanistan’s different neighbours on Wednesday, assembly along with his Uzbekistan counterpart within the capital Tashkent.
A Pakistani overseas ministry assertion on the assembly echoed phrases from Qureshi’s earlier conferences with Tajik leaders earlier within the day, saying Qureshi “remarked that peace in Afghanistan would carry stability within the area, promote commerce and facilitate folks to folks linkages.
“It was due to this fact essential that neighbours of Afghanistan coordinate carefully on the state of affairs in Afghanistan.”
Subsequent on Qureshi’s tour shall be Turkmenistan, adopted by a go to to Iran, which is each Pakistan and Afghanistan’s southwestern neighbour.
14 hours in the past (12:25 GMT)
Afghan all-girl robotics staff members land in Mexico
5 members of an all-girl Afghan robotics staff have arrived in Mexico, fleeing an unsure future at house after the latest collapse of the US-backed authorities and takeover by the Taliban armed group.
“We provide the warmest welcome to Mexico,” Mexican Deputy Overseas Minister Martha Delgado stated on Tuesday night as she greeted them throughout a information convention at Mexico Metropolis’s worldwide airport.
Learn extra right here.
Members of Afghanistan’s robotics staff attend a information convention after arriving in Mexico [Mexico’s Foreign Relations Ministry/Handout via Reuters]
15 hours in the past (12:10 GMT)
Taliban exhibits off ‘particular forces’ in propaganda blitz
The Taliban has been displaying off its personal “particular forces” on social media, troopers in new uniforms outfitted with looted American tools who distinction sharply with the picture of the same old Afghan fighter.
Photos and movies of fighters within the so-called “Badri 313” unit present males in uniforms, boots, balaclavas and physique armour much like these worn by particular forces all over the world – and in contrast to the shalwar kameez, turban and sandals of the standard Taliban fighter.
Quite than a battered Russian-designed Kalashnikov rifle slung over their shoulder, the boys of Badri 313 maintain new US-made rifles such because the M4, generally with night-vision goggles and superior gunsights.
A video seize taken from Afghan TV RTA exhibits propaganda photos of Taliban’s Badri 313 Particular Forces patrolling streets in an unidentified location in Afghanistan [RTA TV/AFP]
15 hours in the past (11:59 GMT)
South Korea takes in 390 Afghan employees on ‘particular advantage’
South Korea plans to absorb about 390 folks from Afghanistan as a part of its evacuation operation within the wake of the Taliban takeover.
In accordance with the overseas ministry in Seoul, they’re native personnel who labored on the South Korean Embassy in Kabul or in amenities, together with hospitals, constructed by South Korea in Afghanistan earlier than the Taliban took energy.
The Afghans are anticipated to reach in South Korea on Thursday alongside with their households, vice overseas minister Choi Jong Moon stated. They’d requested to return to South Korea due to the insecurity in Afghanistan, he stated.
15 hours in the past (11:55 GMT)
Afghan resistance chief guarantees ‘no give up’
The chief of a resistance motion to the Taliban has promised to by no means give up however is open to negotiations with the brand new rulers of Afghanistan, in accordance with an interview revealed by Paris Match.
Ahmad Massoud, the son of legendary Afghan insurgent commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, has retreated to his native Panjshir valley north of Kabul together with former vice chairman Amrullah Saleh.
“I would favor to die than to give up,” Massoud informed French thinker Bernard-Henri Levy in his first interview for the reason that Taliban took over Kabul. “I’m the son of Ahmad Chah Massoud. Give up shouldn’t be a phrase in my vocabulary.”
Ahmad Massoud, son of the slain hero of the anti-Soviet resistance, Ahmad Shah Massoud, speaks throughout an interview at his home in Bazarak [File: Mohammad Ismail/Reuters]
16 hours in the past (11:06 GMT)
Airplane with 240 evacuated Afghan nationals lands in Budapest
A airplane carrying 240 evacuated Afghan nationals, together with 126 kids, landed within the Hungarian capital Budapest, the state information company MTI reported, citing an announcement from the inside ministry.
MTI stated a convoy carrying the evacuees had left Budapest’s worldwide airport to an immigration facility on the border with Serbia the place they are going to be positioned in quarantine and undergo immigration checks.
16 hours in the past (11:04 GMT)
Germany to assist Afghans searching for to depart past deadline
Germany will attempt to assist Afghans who labored with its troopers and help organisations and want to depart Afghanistan even after an August 31 deadline to finish a US-led navy evacuation operation, Chancellor Angela Merkel says.
“The top of the air bridge in just a few days should not imply the tip of efforts to guard Afghan helpers and assist these Afghans who’ve been left in an even bigger emergency,” Merkel informed the German parliament.
“We’re working intensively in any respect ranges to seek out how we are able to shield those that helped us, together with by way of the civilian operation of the airport in Kabul,” she added.
Merkel delivers a speech on the state of affairs in Afghanistan on the decrease home of parliament, the Bundestag, in Berlin [Michele Tantussi/Reuters]
16 hours in the past (11:00 GMT)
Poland halts Afghan airlift over security considerations
Poland says it has halted its airlift evacuations from Kabul’s airport over security considerations.
Marcin Przydacz, a Polish deputy overseas minister, stated the choice was made after consulting with US and British officers. He added {that a} group that had been taken from Kabul to Uzbekistan was the final evacuated by Poland. One other airplane is on its solution to Warsaw.
“After a protracted evaluation of stories on the safety state of affairs we can not danger the lives of our diplomats and of our troopers any longer,” Przydacz stated. Some troops will stay briefly to hold out duties similar to closing the bottom, he stated.
Afghans on board a Spanish navy airplane evacuating them from Kabul [Ministry of defence of Spain/Handout via Reuters]
16 hours in the past (10:56 GMT)
About 1,000 Afghans obtain permission to journey to Russia: RIA
Russia has allowed about 1,000 Afghans to enter the nation from Afghanistan, RIA information company stories, citing a Moscow-based organisation of Afghan expatriates.
Amongst those that obtained permission to journey are holders of Russian passports or these with everlasting residence rights and college students of Russian universities, it stated.
16 hours in the past (10:31 GMT)
UNICEF Afghanistan: 10 million kids in determined want
Ten million kids in Afghanistan are in determined want of humanitarian help for the reason that Taliban swept to energy this month, a UNICEF Afghanistan spokesperson says.
Kids in Afghanistan already survive on humanitarian help and about a million are anticipated to endure life-threatening malnutrition this yr, in accordance with UNICEF.
The organisation stated it expects the humanitarian state of affairs within the nation to worsen attributable to a extreme drought, the onset of winter and the coronavirus pandemic.
Afghan IDPs who fled the combating between the Taliban and Afghan safety forces take refuge in a Kabul public park [Rahmat Gul/AP]
16 hours in the past (10:28 GMT)
‘Afghanistan misplaced its most educated and succesful era’
Bilal Sarwary, an impartial Afghan journalist who left Kabul on an evacuation flight to Qatar, informed Al Jazeera fleeing his nation was “a painful resolution”.
“I’ve been overlaying the story of my nation and my folks during the last 20 years. I used to be shocked how fast Kabul fell to the Taliban with no battle,” he stated. “After which I had the Taliban come at my door a number of instances. They clearly know who I’m, I’m very lively on social media … I used to be feeling not secure together with my household.”
“Though I’ve studied within the West, I by no means considered abandoning my life, my nation… On the flight that I got here in, I noticed everybody that has represented Afghanistan during the last 20 years in media, civil society, artwork, historical past. All I may consider was the loss for the nation, the mind drain. It was the unbelievable ache … not solely have we misplaced the whole lot, Afghanistan additionally misplaced its most educated and succesful era.”
17 hours in the past (10:09 GMT)
China’s Xi and Russia’s Putin focus on Afghanistan
Chinese language President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged views on Afghanistan in a name, in accordance with Chinese language state newspaper Folks’s Day by day.
Xi urged all events in Afghanistan to construct an open and inclusive political framework, implement reasonable, steady insurance policies and minimize ties with all “terrorist” teams, it stated.
17 hours in the past (09:54 GMT)
Lots of endorse open letter by Arts for Afghanistan
Lots of of organisations and cultural employees have endorsed an open letter by a bunch referred to as Arts for Afghanistan, calling on the US authorities to evacuate Afghan artists, performers, writers, filmmakers, photographers and different cultural employees.
The letter’s authors stated cultural employees have been taking grave dangers in depicting the experiences and articulating the aspirations of Afghans, typically with the encouragement and direct assist of the US authorities.
17 hours in the past (09:22 GMT)
Afghans stored in wretched situations at US base in Qatar
Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby says the US is engaged on bettering situations for Afghan evacuees at a US airbase in Qatar after video obtained by media shops confirmed them residing in inhuman situations.
Images and video footage shared with Al Jazeera confirmed lots of of Afghans crowded collectively in unsanitary situations in a hangar at Al Udeid airbase.
Learn extra right here.
Afghan refugees at US military base in Qatar [Image obtained by Al jazeera]
18 hours in the past (09:15 GMT)
Russia begins Afghan evacuation, holds navy drills in Tajikistan
Russia has begun evacuating greater than 500 folks from Afghanistan and holding navy workout routines for its tank forces in neighbouring Tajikistan.
Russia’s defence ministry stated it had deployed quite a lot of T-72 tanks to Tajikistan’s mountains and practised long-range firing at transferring targets, Interfax information company reported.
The ministry additionally stated it was evacuating greater than 500 folks from Afghanistan, together with Russians and residents of Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine.
18 hours in the past (08:53 GMT)
Anti-Taliban fighters dig in to defend Panjshir Valley
Atop a craggy mountain that has withstood overseas invaders for many years, anti-Taliban fighters hearth a mounted heavy machine gun right into a deep valley.
They’re members of the Nationwide Resistance Entrance (NRF) – essentially the most outstanding Afghan opposition group to emerge for the reason that Taliban captured Kabul 9 days in the past.
Learn extra right here.
Afghan resistance forces set up a heavy weapon system at an outpost in Kotal-e Anjuman, Paryan, Panjshir [Ahmad Sahel Arman/AFP]
18 hours in the past (08:33 GMT)
Planes leaving Kabul with empty seats: WSJ
A bunch of American veterans, navy contractors, help employees and former spies is scrambling to get as many individuals out of Afghanistan as they will earlier than President Biden shuts the window for rescues in coming days, The Wall Road Journal stories.
“Erik Prince, the American defence contractor, stated he’s providing folks seats on a chartered airplane out of Kabul for $6,500 per particular person. U.S. and NATO forces are sending particular rescue groups into Taliban-controlled areas of the town to spirit their residents into the airport. And numerous Afghans who thought the US would shield them after having assisted the US-led coalition forces prior to now 20 years at the moment are realizing that they are going to most certainly be left behind, to face Taliban wrath alone,” the report says.
“Personal rescue efforts are going through rising obstacles this week, simply because the urgency grows. Chartered planes are flying out of Kabul with lots of of empty seats. New Taliban checkpoints on the highway to Pakistan have made driving in a foreign country more and more dangerous.”
19 hours in the past (08:10 GMT)
As 1000’s flee Afghanistan, some earlier refugees need to return
From vans filled with carpets, bedding, garments and goats, about 200 Afghan refugees look in direction of Spin Boldak of their nation’s south, ready to return house from Pakistan.
“We emigrated from Afghanistan throughout bombing and hardships when Muslims had been in hassle, now, reward be to Allah, the state of affairs is regular, so we’re returning to Afghanistan,” Molavi Shaib informed the AFP information company on the border.
“Folks need to return however they aren’t allowed to cross, we request the Pakistani authorities to permit us to cross the border as a result of there’s no conflict, and peace has been established,” Muhammad Nabi stated.
(Al Jazeera)
19 hours in the past (07:38 GMT)
Taliban stopping Afghans from reaching Kabul airport
Al Jazeera’s Charles Stratford, reporting from Kabul, stated “the state of affairs has modified in a single day” across the airport.
The Taliban have arrange a checkpoint 5km (3 miles) from the northern gate of the Kabul airport, the place a lot of the Afghans hoping to flee the nation have gathered over latest days, he stated.
“They don’t seem to be permitting anyone until they… have a US visa, US passport or invitation from both the US or any of the NATO nations,” he stated. “We perceive there’s a related state of affairs on the japanese gate. The Taliban have arrange a checkpoint there, stopping folks getting by way of with out the requisite paperwork… There’s a sense of accelerating panic,” he stated.
19 hours in the past (07:33 GMT)
Afghan refugees arrive in Uganda: overseas ministry
A flight carrying Afghan evacuees has touched down in Uganda the place they are going to be given momentary refuge, authorities and diplomatic officers say.
“The Authorities of the Republic of Uganda this morning obtained Fifty One (51) evacuees from Afghanistan who arrived aboard a privately chartered flight on the Entebbe Worldwide Airport,” the overseas ministry stated in an announcement.
It stated this adopted a request from the US authorities to briefly host “at-risk” Afghan nationals and others who’re in transit to the US and different locations worldwide.
Evacuees sit in a Royal Canadian Air Drive transport airplane flying to Canada from Kabul [Canadian Armed Forces/Handout via Reuters]
19 hours in the past (07:25 GMT)
Almost all UK residents with out twin nationality evacuated: Raab
British Overseas Secretary Dominic Raab says that the majority British residents with out twin nationality had been evacuated from Afghanistan.
“The lion share, nearly of them who need to come out, have been introduced house,” Raab informed Sky Information.
He stated within the final 24 hours, some 2,000 folks had been delivered to Britain from Kabul.
21 hours in the past (05:55 GMT)
Afghan Paralympians evacuated and secure: IPC
Afghanistan’s two Paralympic athletes have been safely evacuated from the nation, the Worldwide Paralympic Committee says, declining to specify their vacation spot.
The 2 taekwondo athletes, Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli, had been initially attributable to symbolize their nation on the Tokyo Paralympics. However with the swift fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, they had been among the many tens of 1000’s trapped and unable to depart the nation.
IPC spokesman Craig Spence stated the 2 wouldn’t be competing on the Video games, and their focus in the mean time was on their wellbeing.
21 hours in the past (05:50 GMT)
WFP requires pressing help as tens of millions of Afghans face hunger
Hundreds of thousands of Afghans face the danger of hunger and a “disaster on high of a disaster” the pinnacle of the UN World Meals Programme has warned, saying the company wants $200m by the tip of the yr to proceed its operations in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover.
WFP Govt Director David Beasley spoke to Al Jazeera on Tuesday whereas touring a compound in Doha housing greater than 500 refugees who fled Afghanistan.
Learn extra right here.
21 hours in the past (05:48 GMT)
Is Afghanistan-made methamphetamine about to flood Europe?
Afghanistan is already the world’s largest provider of opium. However opium, which is used to make heroin, shouldn’t be the one unlawful drug produced by the war-torn nation.
Over the previous 4 years, Afghans have additionally been getting higher at making methamphetamine, identified colloquially as velocity, crystal or meth.
Learn extra right here.
21 hours in the past (05:42 GMT)
Airbnb and different US corporations step as much as assist with Afghan refugees
US corporations, together with Airbnb and Walmart, are lending a hand to the folks of Afghanistan.
House-sharing firm Airbnb stated on Tuesday it will present momentary housing to twenty,000 Afghan refugees worldwide.
Learn extra right here.
Learn the information updates from August 24 right here.
