Due to a “security threat”, the United States has asked American citizens not to approach Kabul airport

The United States urged its citizens not to approach or go to Kabul airport for fear of attack. The alert comes amid operations by Washington with its allies to evacuate Americans and Afghans who collaborated with foreign forces during the war.

“Due to security threats outside the gates of Kabul airport, we recommend that US citizens avoid going to the airport and avoid the airport gates at this time, unless they receive individual instructions from a representative of the government in Kabul. the United States to do it, ”reported the American Embassy in Kabul in the early hours of Thursday.

“US citizens at Abbey Gate, East Gate or North Gate must now leave immediately“The embassy added in its statement.

For its part, UK Foreign Office has updated travel advisories and noted on its website that the security situation in Afghanistan is ‘volatile’ and “there is a constant and high threat of terrorist attack”.

“Do not go to Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul,” the wallet also warned, to call those nearby to “move away” to “a safe place” until “receive more advice. “or” leave Afghanistan immediately if they can do so safely by other means. “

Britain’s Foreign Office has also said it is suspending all non-essential operations at its embassy in Kabul due to the situation., attendance is therefore “extremely limited” for the moment.

On the other hand, about 1,500 Americans could wait to leave AfghanistanSecretary of State Antony Blinken reported a figure on Wednesday indicating that part of the US-led air evacuation of the Taliban-controlled country could be completed by Tuesday, when the deadline set by President Joe Biden will expire. Meanwhile, thousands of Afghans at risk are struggling to access Kabul airport.

Blinken said that, according to the State Department’s estimates, around 6,000 Americans wanted to leave Afghanistan when the evacuation began on August 14., and that to date, some 4,500 people have already left the country. The 6,000 figure is the State Department’s first public estimate of the number of Americans seeking to leave Afghanistan after the Taliban takes control of the nation.

“Of course, some of them are very scared,” Blinken said at a State Department press conference.

He added that around 500 have received instructions as to when and how to get to the chaotic Kabul airport to board evacuation flights.

In addition, they are in frequent contact with about 1,000 people, or perhaps less, to determine if they still want to leave the country. Blinken said some of them may have already left the country, others might want to stay, and a few might not be U.S. citizens.

Out of these 1,000 people, the number of those who “actively seek help” to leave Afghanistan “is less, probably much less, ”said the secretary.

The Biden administration has indicated that its priority is the evacuation of Americans, even as he tries to expel Afghans who helped the US government or military or build Afghan civil society during the 20 Years War, as well as those he calls “vulnerable Afghans” – those who believe they will face retaliation from the Taliban for opposing their uprising.

Leaving aside Tuesday’s deadline, Blinken said that “there is no deadline in our work to help the remaining U.S. citizens who decide to do so, as well as the many Afghans who have been with us over the years who want to leave and do could not do it. This work will continue, every day, after August 31 ”.

Biden said on Tuesday he had asked his national security team to come up with contingency plans in case it decides to extend the deadline.

For its part, the Taliban have said they will not tolerate any extension of Tuesday’s deadline. However, group spokesman Suhail Shaheen tweeted that “people with legal documents” will still be able to leave the country on commercial flights after Tuesday.

(With information from AP and Europa Press)

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