WASHINGTON – The United States intends to send Afghan evacuees who do not authorize initial tests to the nation of Kosovo, which has agreed to house them for up to a year, a U.S. official told the Associated Press on Saturday.
The US plan for potentially long-term stays in a third country for Afghan evacuees whose cases require further prosecution is likely to face objections from refugee advocates. They complain about the lack of transparency and legal jurisdiction uncertainty in the Biden administration’s use of overseas transit sites to examine the approximately 120,000 evacuees from Afghanistan, the Taliban.
Other U.S. officials have said they expect most or all Afghans whose cases may initially raise red flags or questions to pass a subsequent review.
Saturday’s disclosure was the first time the United States has revealed its plans for Afghans or other evacuees who have been unable to clean up initial rounds of detection or cases where the cases require more time.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not yet authorized for publication, said “traffic centers offer a safe place for several groups, the opportunity to complete their paperwork while we perform. security tests before continuing to their final destination in the United States or another country. “
U.S. officials have struggled to explain whether they are preparing a military camp near the Kosovo capital used by the U.S. military, Camp Bondsteel, or a location just outside the army camp. which was previously used to house crews of road builders.
– By Ellen Knickmeyer
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MORE ON AFGHANISTAN:
– The United States is waiting to admit more than 50,000 Afghans evacuated
– Afghan women demand rights while the Taliban seek recognition
– The United States defends the strike that the Afghan family says he killed innocents
– Qatar says it is unclear when Kabul airport will reopen
– Those who remain in Afghanistan complain about broken US promises
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– Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/afghanistan
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HERE IS WHAT HAPPENS MOST:
BELGRADE, Serbia – The Austrian leader says any wave of migration from Afghanistan should be handled in neighboring countries.
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said in Belgrade on Saturday that there should be no potential wave towards Europe. He adds that “that is why we are in contact with countries in the region.”
Kurz spoke after meeting Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Thousands of migrants from the Middle East, Africa and Asia have been stranded in Serbia and neighboring countries on the so-called Balkan migration route to Western Europe.
Kurz has long taken a tough approach to migration. He recently said that Austria will not accept migrants from Afghanistan because it has reached a “disproportionately high” number since 2015, when one million people entered Europe from the Middle East, Africa or Asia.
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KABUL, Afghanistan – Pakistan’s powerful intelligence chief has paid a surprise visit to the Afghan capital, Kabul. This is according to two Pakistani officials who asked not to be appointed because they are not allowed to speak to the media.
It was not immediately known what General Faiez Hameed was to say to Taliban leaders on Saturday, but the Pakistani intelligence service has perhaps the greatest foreign influence over the Taliban.
The Taliban leadership was based in Pakistan and was often said to be in direct contact with the powerful inter-service intelligence agency.
Although Pakistan routinely denied military aid to the Taliban, the accusation was often made by the Afghan government and Washington.
– Per Zarar Khan
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ISTANBUL – An official from Kabul Emergency Hospital says two people were killed and 12 injured after Taliban fighters in the capital fired their weapons into the air in celebration.
The Kabul Taliban fired into the air Friday night to celebrate the gains on the battlefield of Panjshir province, which still remains under the control of anti-Taliban fighters.
The hospital official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to report to the media.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Twitter criticized the practice of firing into the air and called on militants to stop it immediately
Tolo TV reported 17 bodies and 41 injured were taken to the Emergency Hospital.
– By Tameem Akhgar