Evacuations Accelerate as 170 Dead at Kabul Airport
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After the bombings that killed more than 170 people near Kabul airport, a Western security official at the airport reveals that the evacuation of civilians accelerated after the two attacks.
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Evacuations of Afghan civilians at Kabul airport accelerated after the bombings (AFP)
Reuters quoted a Western security official at Kabul airport, who asked not to be named, saying that the evacuation of civilians accelerated after the two attacks that targeted the vicinity of Kabul airport, and that flights are taking off regularly.
In parallel, a diplomat in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) said that the Taliban should investigate ISIS' network after it allowed thousands to leave prisons, noting that the organization will reinforce its forces to manage crowds and impose security at the gates of Kabul Airport.
In return, a Taliban official confirmed that the movement's guards will set up watchtowers around all Afghan airports in order to maintain their security.
Zabiullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesman, described the Kabul airport explosion as a terrorist attack and condemned other attacks.
In turn, the spokesman for the Taliban in Doha, Suhail Shaheen, said in a tweet that two suicide bombers and armed men attacked the crowds flowing in Kabul Airport in an area controlled by the American forces, adding that the "Islamic Emirate" is concerned with protecting its people, and will maintain their security from any terrorist acts.
Earlier, the Afghan Ministry of Health announced that the death toll from the Kabul airport bombing had risen to 110, including 28 Taliban militants and 13 American soldiers. Afghan media reported that the death toll from the explosions in the vicinity of Kabul Airport has risen to 170.
For his part, an official from the Taliban confirmed the death of at least 28 militants of the movement in the bombings.
The Security Council called on all relevant sides to respect and facilitate the safe evacuation of civilians, noting that the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan is important in order not to use its territory to attack any country.
The Pentagon confirmed today that the US armed forces that control Kabul airport can continue air evacuations until the last minute, with the August 31 deadline for withdrawing all foreign soldiers from Afghanistan approaching.
Spokesman John Kirby said that the US intends to finish this mission by the end of the month.
Yesterday, General Kenneth Frank McKenzie, the commander of CENTCOM, said that the US is determined to respond to ISIS after the attack on Kabul airport. The Pentagon also announced that 12 American soldiers were killed and 15 were wounded.
Commenting on the bombings, US President Joe Biden, said Friday, “I bear responsibility for fundamentally all that’s happened of late.”
He added that the attack in Kabul was carried out by a group called ISIS-Khorasan.
It is noteworthy that Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistani Foreign Minister, declared that he stands at an equal distance from all sides in Afghanistan, rejecting the continuous foreign presence, and supporting the American withdrawal on time.
From its side, Russia considered that the Kabul attack confirms the expectations that "The chaos in Afghanistan will certainly be used by the terrorist groups."
Russian presidential spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that Russia has not yet recognized the Taliban, and is closely following the development of the situation.
