WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US and Coalition forces evacuated 4,200 individuals from Kabul airport in the last 12 hours, the White House said in a press release.
"From August 27 at 3:00 AM EDT [7:00 a.m. GMT] to August 27 at 3:00 PM EDT, a total of approximately 4,200 people were evacuated from Kabul," the White House said on Friday. "This is the result of 12 US military flights (9 C-17s and 3 C-130s) which carried approximately 2,100 evacuees, and 29 coalition flights which carried approximately 2,100 people."
PARIS (Sputnik) — French Defense Minister Florence Parly said that the country's operation on the evacuation of people from Afghanistan had been completed.
"The Operation Apagan, which started on August 15 by the order of the president of the Republic, has been completed today in the evening. Within less than two weeks, the French military has evacuated around 3,000 people, including over 2,600 Afghan citizens, who were sheltered by France," Parly wrote on his Twitter page on late Friday.
The General Staff of France said that the last group of French military had left Kabul on late Friday.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Taliban (banned in Russia) on Friday ordered those still holding on to guns, ammunition, and government vehicles in Kabul to hand them over within a week or face punishment.
"In the city of Kabul, all those who have transport vehicles, weapons, ammunition, and other government goods are to hand them voluntarily over to relevant Emirate authorities within a week," spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted.
He warned "violators" that they would be prosecuted if found in possession of said items.
We mourn the loss of these Marines, and pray for their families. Our focus now is taking care of the families of those who were killed, and caring for the injured. The identities of those killed will be withheld until 24 hours after all next-of-kin notifications are complete.
— U.S. Marines (@USMC) August 27, 2021
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The Taliban (banned in Russia) are interested in seeing a US diplomatic presence in Afghanistan after Washington's withdrawal of August 31, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Friday.
"We have heard the same thing from the Taliban privately that they have been saying publicly that they want embassies to remain open," Price said during a press conference. "They [Taliban] have made very clear to us in our communication, they would like to see an American diplomatic presence remain."
According to the Taliban spokesman Bilal Karimi, the Taliban (banned in Russia) took over "three important military points" in the Kabul airport on Friday.
"Today, three important locations in the military part of Kabul airport were evacuated by the Americans and are under the control of the Islamic Emirate," Karimi said on Twitter. "Now, a very small part remains with the Americans."
The United States is "actively discussing" with its European partners the possibility of recognition of the Taliban (banned in Russia) government in Afghanistan, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Friday.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The United States is in discussion with its international partners about maintaining a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, but a final decision has not been made, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said on Friday.
“It is something we are actively discussing with both with our partners and thinking about here as well,” Price said during a press briefing, addressing questions about the future of US diplomatic presence in the war-torn country, noting that no definitive decision has been reached.
The Taliban (a terrorist group, banned in Russia) on Friday called on female health workers in Afghanistan to return to work.
"The Ministry of Public Health of the Islamic Emirate [Taliban's name for Afghanistan] informs female employees that they should return to their duties on a regular basis in [regional] centres and provinces. The Islamic Emirate will not pose any obstacle to their work," Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on Twitter.
On August 15, the Taliban completed their takeover of Afghanistan by entering Kabul.
Women's rights under the Taliban remain an issue of concern. Earlier in August, the movement said that women would be allowed to study and work as well as take part in governmental activities. On Tuesday, the Taliban said that female state officials will be able to resume their work after necessary rules are worked out.
However, according to UN and media reports, the movement has already forbidden women in several parts of Afghanistan to work or leave their homes without being accompanied by a male relative.
The US will be engaging with the Taliban as a means to ensure the safe evacuation of people from Afghanistan following the August 31 deadline for withdrawal, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday.
“The President did direct the Secretary of State to continue diplomatic efforts with international partners to secure means for third-country nationals and Afghans with visas to leave the country even after the US military presence ends,” Psaki said. “A part of that would certainly be having a coordinated approach and engagement with the Taliban.”
The Taliban terror group (banned in Russia) have requested the United States keep a diplomatic footprint in Afghanistan following the August 31 withdrawal, the Washington Post reported on Friday.
The report cited a source familiar with the matter who said the Taliban have requested that the United States retain a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan past the August 31 deadline for withdrawal from the country.
US officials have been considering the option of retaining a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, but no final order has been issued, the report added.
The United States and its allies have been discussing the possibility of recognizing the Taliban government after the terror group took over Afghanistan.
However, US lawmakers Mike Waltz and Lindsey Graham called on the Biden administration earlier on Friday to recognize Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh as the legitimate government representative, saying the already recognized Afghan Constitution remains intact.
Ottawa is unaware that any Canadians and Afghan nationals approved for relocation to have been injured in the deadly terror attack outside of the Kabul airport, Foreign Minister Marc Garneau said on Friday.
“Based on the information we have, at this point, the answer is: no,” Garneau told reporters when asked whether any Canadians or Afghans holding visas to relocate to Canada have been injured in the terrorist attacks.
However, Garneau pointed out that the final assessment of the deadly attacks in Kabul is incomplete.
On Thursday, several explosions targeted Kabul airport and its outskirts. The Islamic State-Khorasan terror group (banned in Russia) claimed responsibility for the attacks. A source in the Afghan Ministry of Health said that at least 110 people died and 1,300 people were wounded. At least 13 US service members were killed in the attack, according to the US Defense Department.
Turkey has approved the request of the Taliban movement (recognized as a terrorist group and banned in Russia) about the management of the airport in the Afghan capital of Kabul, Al-Jazeera broadcaster reported, citing a source in the movement.
Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey had received a request from the Taliban to operate the airport in Kabul, but Ankara has not yet considered this issue.
In addition, a Taliban source said the movement would ask Qatar for technical assistance in operating the Kabul airport.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday it was increasing efforts to send more medical supplies to the hospital treating victims of the recent attacks in Kabul.
On Thursday, an explosion went off and shots were fired near Kabul airport, which has been overrun by people trying to leave Afghanistan after the Taliban (a terrorist organziation banned in Russia) took over Kabul on Sunday.
"@WHO is on the ground supporting efforts to treat those injured in the #Kabul explosions yesterday. Our medical & trauma supplies are being used by the Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital for urgent treatment of the victims. We are moving swiftly to send more supplies to the hospital," WHO Afghanistan wrote on Twitter.
At least 170 people were reported dead and hundreds wounded in the attacks claimed by Islamic State-Khorasan (terrorist organization outlawed in Russia).
Countries have been working hard since Sunday to organize the evacuation of their citizens, diplomats and Afghans who assisted NATO allies. Despite the chaos caused by the attacks, the Taliban maintained their August 31 deadline for foreign military departures, but said it would allow civilian evacuation to continue past that date.
Two UK citizens and the child of another UK citizen were killed in the terrorist attack in Kabul on Thursday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said.
"I was deeply saddened to learn that two British nationals and the child of another British national were killed by yesterday’s terror attack, with two more injured," Raab said in a statement released by the Foreign Office.
"Yesterday’s despicable attack underlines the dangers facing those in Afghanistan and reinforces why we are doing all we can to get people out. We are offering consular support to their families. We will not turn our backs on those who look to us in their hour of need, and we will never be cowed by terrorists," he added.
NATO's Senior Civil Representative to Afghanistan, Stefano Pontecorvo, who was coordinating the evacuation of the alliance staff and Afghan employees, departed Kabul on Friday.
"Leaving Kabul with a heavy heart. My gratitude to all #NATO Allies & Partners for a massive evacuation effort from #Afghanistan despite all challenges. NATO played a key role in getting thousands out and is committed to getting others to safety. Thanks to #Italy for flying us out," Pontecorvo wrote on Twitter.
Pontecorvo left Afghanistan on Italy's last evacuation flight out, alongside consul Tommaso Claudi, who managed the country's evacuation mission, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Facebook.
Italy and other countries mounted a hurried evacuation of their citizens and Afghan staff after the Taliban (banned in Russia as a terrorist organization) entered Kabul on Sunday. Many Afghans who had worked with the foreign military rushed to the airport fearing for their safety under the Taliban rule.
Foreign troops are under pressure to wrap up evacuation by August 31, as the Taliban warned they would not extend the deadline for the military even in light of Thursday's explosions wreaking havoc in the Kabul airport. At the same time, the movement said it would allow the evacuation of civilians to continue beyond August 31.
Thousands of inmates, including members of the Islamic State-Khorasan terror group (ISIS-K, banned in Russia) were released from two Afghan prisons taken over by the Taliban, US Defense Department Spokesperson John Kirby said during a press briefing on Thursday.
“I don’t know the exact number [of prisoners released]. Clearly, it’s in the thousands when you consider both prisons, because both of them were taken over by the Taliban and emptied, but I couldn’t give you a precise figure,” Kirby said in response to a question about how many ISIS-K prisoners are believed to have been released.
Approximately 5,400 people remain at Kabul airport awaiting flights to leave Afghanistan, US Army Maj. Gen. William Taylor said on Friday.
"There are still approximately 5400 individuals on the airport. As of this report, awaiting for flights out of Afghanistan," Taylor said during a press briefing.
Taylor also said that over past 24 hours, the United States and its allies evacuated 12,500 people on 80 flights out of Afghanistan.
The US has authorized three more domestic military bases to be used as temporary housing for up to 50,000 Afghan evacuees, Defense Department Spokesperson John Kirby said during a press briefing on Friday.
“Today the Department of Defense can announce that it has authorized Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Fort Pickett, Virginia, and Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico to provide additional support to the US mission to evacuate Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants, their families, and other at-risk individuals,” Kirby said.
US Northern Command said on Friday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin directed them to provide the State Department with temporary housing and sustainment for up to 50,000. The three aforementioned bases will join four others that have already been authorized in providing this support.
The initial reports about a second suicide explosion attack at the Baron hotel near Kabul airport on Thursday have not been confirmed meaning there was only one suicide bomber attack at the Abbey gate leading to the airport, Army Major General William Taylor said on Friday.
“I can confirm for you that we do not believe that there was a second explosion at or near the Baron hotel, that it was one suicide bomber. We are not sure how that report was provided incorrect,” Taylor said at a press briefing.
Several people were detained in connection with the explosions at the airport in Kabul, Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban movement (recognised as terrorist and banned in Russia), said.
"Yes, several people were detained," Mujahid said, adding that the exact details are not yet disclosed.
The United States could establish contacts with regional actors, including the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) and the Taliban (a terrorist group banned in Russia), to defeat Daesh (IS/ISIS/ISIL banned in Russia) in Afghanistan, the deputy speaker of the Russian upper house said on Friday.
US President Joe Biden has vowed to hunt down the leaders of the Islamic State-Khorasan terrorist group (banned in Russia) responsible for the deadly suicide attack outside the Kabul airport on Thursday, while remaining steadfast in his commitment to pull forces out of Afghanistan by the August 31 deadline.
"To what extent these [Biden's] plans will be implemented, and first of all, in cooperation with which forces and countries, time will show," Konstantin Kosachev wrote on Facebook.
According to the senior lawmaker, Biden has two options in the current situation.
"The first is to respond in a typically American manner — for example, by launching missile strikes at terrorist bases, or, say, killing one of the terrorist leaders," Kosachev explained.
The second option, described as more effective by the politician, implies contacts with CSTO member states and the Taliban.
"The current situation probably suggests the first option. But the interests of America and the international community — the second," Kosachev noted.
On Thursday, a series of explosions occurred outside the Kabul airport. At least 170 people, including 13 American service members, were reported dead and hundreds wounded as a result.
The French Foreign Ministry confirmed to BFMTV on Friday that it held negotiations with representatives of the Taliban (banned in Russia) political office in Kabul and Doha to discuss evacuation from Afghanistan.
Earlier in the day, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said that the movement’s delegation held a meeting with French envoy Francois Richer in Doha on Thursday.
The foreign ministry confirmed that such contacts "with representatives of the Taliban movement took place over the past few days, both in Kabul and Doha, to facilitate our ongoing evacuation missions."
The UN Security Council on Friday issued a statement urging all states to cooperate actively with the relevant authorities to hold accountable the attackers, organizers and sponsors of the Kabul airport bombings.
"The members of the Security Council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice. They urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard," the statement said.
The UN Security Council also calls upon all states to combat threats to international peace and security caused by terrorism, including such threats emanating from Afghanistan to ensure that country’s territory is not used to attack any other country.
On Thursday, several explosions targeted Kabul airport and its outskirts. The Daesh-Khorasan terror group (banned in Russia) claimed responsibility for the attacks. A source in the Afghan Ministry of Health said that at least 110 people died and 1,300 people were wounded. At least 13 US service members were killed in the attack, according to the Defense Department.
The death toll after a series of terrorist attacks near the Kabul airport on Thursday reached 170, CBS reported on Friday, citing the Afghan Health Ministry.
According to CBS, approximately 200 people got injured during the attacks, including at least 18 US soldiers.
The Pentagon has confirmed the death of 13 US servicemen.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said on Friday that his country will deliver food to Afghanistan, which is facing a severe food shortage, across a border bridge opened for this purpose.
Earlier today, an official from the administration of the Uzbek city of Termez, bordering Afghanistan, said that a nearby logistics centre can be used by international organizations for supplying humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
"Currently, Afghanistan needs help. If they make efforts for the sake of peace, we will help them. We will deliver food imported from other countries by train and make our contribution as well," Mirziyoyev said.
The president added that a day before, Tashkent had opened the Friendship Bridge across the Amu Darya river for running supplies to Afghanistan. He noted that only Uzbekistan has railway communication with the Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif.
In March, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Programme included Afghanistan in a list of countries that facing the threat of severe food shortage. On Thursday, WFP Executive Director David Beasley said that about 14 million Afghans, a third of the country's population, may soon suffer from famine due to the current crisis.
Moscow regrets the failure of attempts to implement agreements reached by the United States and the Taliban (banned as a terrorist organisation in Russia) and believes this happened not only because of the radical movement, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday.
The trend of "dragging out" peace negotiations emerged even before the large-scale Taliban offensive, the minister noted.
"Just as always, when there are no achievements at the negotiating table, the risk of resuming hostilities increases. This is exactly what happened. We were ready to support agreements that the Americans concluded with the Taliban and that unfortunately were not implemented probably not only because of the Taliban's position," Lavrov said at a press conference following negotiations with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio.
The United States should learn lessons after the Afghanistan mission, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday.
"Our Western colleagues always want to unite efforts and seek joint answers. But, nevertheless, I was already asked about this a few days ago, after all, a lesson must be learned after Iraq, after Libya, and now after Afghanistan. Attempts to impose someone else's value system are highly explosive," Lavrov said during a joint press conference with his Italian counterpart, Luigi Di Maio.
The Russian minister added that he hopes politicians who make plans about "further actions in foreign lands" will learn lessons after "third time."
It is vitally important for Russia to ensure the security of its southern borders in light of developments in Afghanistan, Lavrov also said.
"It is fundamentally important to ensure the security of our southern borders and our allies in Central Asia," the minister said.
Russia condemns series of terrorist attacks that hit Kabul on Thursday and expresses condolences to the victims, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday.
"Afghanistan, for obvious reasons, took a significant place in our discussions. We join in condemning these terrorist acts, in condolences to the families of the victims," Lavrov said during a joint press conference with his Italian counterpart, Luigi Di Maio.
Italy is working on coordinating a plan to provide aid to Afghans, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Friday.
"The Italian Foreign Ministry is already working on coordinating a plan to help the Afghan people," Di Maio told a press briefing.
The plan includes five priorities, including protection of the civilian population, protection of human rights, including women, and countering terrorism, Di Maio added.
Documented Afghans will be able to travel abroad after the opening of the civilian section of the Kabul airport, Suhail Shaheen, the spokesman for the Taliban’s (banned in Russia) political office, said on Friday.
"The IEA [the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan or the Taliban] delegation reiterated that every Afghan with legal documents can travel abroad and proper facilities will be provided to all Afghans for their travel after the opening of the civilian part of the Airport," Shaheen tweeted.
The United States and its allies evacuated around 12,500 people from Afghanistan in the past 24 hours, while the number of those evacuated since August 14 tops 105,000, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said on Friday.
"In the past 24 hours, a total of roughly 12,500 people were evacuated from Kabul. Since 8/14: roughly 105,000 people evacuated. Since the end of July, we have re-located approximately 110,600 people," Jean-Pierre wrote on Twitter.
German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer arrived in the Uzbek capital Tashkent to meet and thank German soldiers, who assisted in the evacuation from Afghanistan.
On Thursday, the German Defence Ministry said that the country had completed its evacuation operation at Kabul airport, with 5,300 people evacuated from the war-torn Central Asian country. The deadly blasts in the Afghan capital made the continuation of evacuation operations impossible, Kramp-Karrenbauer said.
"I am currently in Tashkent to thank our soldiers. They all successfully returned from Kabul. We are proud of their prominent mission," Kramp-Karrenbauer tweeted.
On Thursday, at least four explosions targeted Kabul airport and its outskirts. The Daesh-Khorasan* terrorist group (banned in Russia) reportedly claimed responsibility for the attacks. A source in the Afghan Ministry of Health said that over 1,300 people had been injured in a series of terrorist attacks, with the death toll standing at 60 people.
The Kremlin is unaware of any requests of the United States for assistance in Afghanistan, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.
"To help someone, it is necessary that someone asks for it. I don't know that the Americans had any requests in this regard," Peskov told reporters when asked if Russia is able to assist the US in the search for organisers of terrorist attacks near Kabul airport on Thursday.
The Kremlin strongly condemns the terrorist attacks in Kabul, which claimed over 100 lives, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.
"We condemn the terrorist attacks as strongly as possible. We are certainly saddened by the news about a very high number of victims," Peskov told reporters.
The incident confirms pessimistic forecasts that terrorist groups could take advantage of the chaos in Afghanistan, according to the Kremlin spokesman.
"This contributes to an escalation of tensions in Afghanistan. Everyone is in danger. This continues to be a cause for our grave concerns," Peskov concluded.
The death toll after a series of terrorist attacks near the Kabul airport on Thursday reached 110, a source in the Afghan Health Ministry said on Friday.
Earlier in the day, the source said that explosions injured over 1,330 people.
The Pentagon has confirmed the death of 13 US servicemen.
The Kabul airport will be unavailable for humanitarian supplies for at least a week following the terrorist attacks, and international organisations are considering the possibility of using the international airport in Mazar-i-Sharif instead, World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Emergency Director Rick Brennan said on Friday.
"Due to security issues and other problems, it won`t be an option. At least for a week," Brennan said at a briefing.
The Mazar-i-Sharif airport is an alternative that is currently under consideration, the WHO official added.
According to UN estimates, there are currently about 100 foreign and 3,000 local staff in Afghanistan.
The head of the Taliban's political office in Doha (a terrorist group, banned in Russia), Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, held a meeting with World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director David Beasley in the Qatari capital, Mohammad Naeem, a spokesman for the Taliban's political office, said on Friday.
During the meeting, the sides thoroughly discussed humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, as well as challenges the Central Asian nation is facing, the spokesman tweeted.
The Taliban delegation also assured Beasley of Afghanistan's cooperation and expressed gratitude for the organization's efforts to help the country, Naeem said.
Earlier this week, WFP spokesperson for Asia and the Pacific Kun Li said that the organization was in contact with all parties in Afghanistan to make sure that relief operations continue in the country in the spirit of impartiality and humanity after the Taliban seized power on 15 August.
On Thursday, the WFP warned that its supply of food in Afghanistan might end in October, stressing that funding has been dwindling amid escalating demands. The UN agency expressed commitment to continue operation in the war-ridden country, adding that "the race is on to scale up and preposition food before the harsh winter arrives."
Indian state Kerala lawmaker MK Muneer said he has received an anonymous threat letter after he posted a message on Facebook against the Taliban.
Muneer said the letter threatened him to withdraw his Facebook post against the Taliban, failing which, he would face consequences.
On 17 August, MK Muneer had posted a message on the social networking site Facebook, criticising the Taliban.
"Our party had already taken a stand against the Taliban. We have never changed that position. This is also the stand of the Muslim League," said Muneer.
Leaders of the Taliban have promised that not a single bullet will be fired in the direction of Uzbekistan, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said on Friday.
"If you have seen on TV, their leader in Doha, [Abdul Ghani] Baradar also said, promised that not a single bullet will be fired in the direction of Uzbekistan. Due to the fact that he keeps his words, we will talk with them," Mirziyoyev told reporters.
The Uzbek president said that Tashkent has been communicated with the Taliban since two years ago when "no other country was in contact with them."
"I need peace and people to be calm, I will talk to anyone. If there is any factor that can affect the peace of our people, the peace of our native Uzbekistan, I will talk with anyone regardless of who it is," the president added.
Turkey has evacuated its embassy in Afghanistan, transporting employees to the area of the Kabul airport where Turkish servicemen are stationed, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday.
"We transported the staff of our embassy to the place where our servicemen are deployed in the airport area. We held 3.5-hour-long negotiations with the Taliban there. Contacts will continue if necessary," Erdogan told reporters.
"These two flights conclude the evacuation of Spanish personnel and Afghan allies and their families," the statement read.
Taliban has denied throwing its weight behind a newly formed Kashmiri militant group Mujahideen e Ghazwat-ul Hind, which has reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamist outfit in a video.
"We are focused on the reconstruction of Afghanistan and have no foreign agenda," Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen told Sputnik on Friday.
A former police chief of Jammu and Kashmir has warned that the Kabul takeover will "embolden" separatists in Kashmir. Former state chief Mehbooba Mufti also warned Delhi that they should heed the concerns of the Kashmiris, as she cited the unfolding events in Kabul.
#Kashmir- A new armed group called "Mujahideen e Ghazwat-ul-Hind" has recently released a video including pledge of allegiance to #Taliban. https://t.co/TTmvqHWmw5
— Mazhar Azad (@AzadQaidii) August 26, 2021
As many as 1,338 people have been injured by a series of terrorist attacks in the Afghan capital of Kabul, a source in the Afghan Ministry of Health told Sputnik on Friday.
The source also said that the death toll stood at 60 people.
