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The US military holds the Kabul airport, with some 6,000 troops there, but outside its walls, where thousands of people are clamoring for entry, and the land and roads are controlled by the Taliban.
The Americans turned to several hundred commandos from the former Afghan government’s National Directorate of Security to restrict access through certain airport gates to prevent crowds from overwhelming the airport.
The Taliban also have limited access, allowing – intentionally or unintentionally – NATO operations inside, while allowing Taliban fighters to search for those they wish to arrest among those who attempt to flee.
Former NDS commandos are expected to be among the last to leave the country during the evacuation, serving as a rearguard before being evacuated by plane, according to former US and Afghan officials.
“They are playing heroically,” one US official said.
“That’s an understatement,” replied another.
Although a certain calm settled in Kabul, the area around the airport remained dangerous. There have been conflicting figures on how many people have died in the chaos this week. The Afghans have been the most affected by the suffering, and many of them, including those with proper papers, are prevented from reaching the airport.
But to show how chaotic the situation is, even foreigners whom the Taliban want to leave the country cannot always reach the facility safely. As thousands of people desperately try to flee Afghanistan, Taliban fighters have blocked the entrances, fired guns and beat some people in the crowd.
Most of the violence took place just outside the main airport entrance, where crowds trying to enter the airport encountered Taliban forces who pushed them back. There were bursts of rifle fire, as well as pushes, pulls and hits with wooden sticks, Kalashnikovs and pipes.
A German civilian was shot dead during the trip, German government spokesman Ulrike Demmer said on Friday.
She said the victim was in stable condition and was being treated for his injuries and would be evacuated as soon as possible.
Videos posted to social media included heartbreaking footage of adults lifting babies and children above crowds, onto concrete walls topped with razor wire and into the waiting arms of US soldiers perched above explosion-proof walls.
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