Top Republican lawmaker says Taliban will not allow Americans to leave Afghanistan airport

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Rep. Michael McCaulMichael Thomas McCaul Sunday shows preview: States deal with Ida consequences; Texas abortion law goes into effect Biden faces an unfinished mission to evacuate Americans. (R-Texas) said Sunday that six planes carrying U.S. citizens and Afghan allies are sitting at an Afghanistan airport trying to take off, but that the Taliban are “holding them for demands.”

McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the planes have been at Mazar-i-Sharif International Airport in northern Afghanistan “for the past two days,” but that they have not was able to leave despite State Department approval.

“In fact, we have six planes at Mazar-i-Sharif airport, six planes, with American citizens as I speak, also with these interpreters, and the Taliban are holding them hostage to the demands right now.” , McCaul told the host Chris WallaceChristopher (Chris) Wallace Show Sunday: Afghanistan’s imminent withdrawal period dominates McConnell, says US has “little or no leverage” to evacuate Americans and Afghan allies McConnell pulls decision to withdraw from Afghanistan ‘Afghanistan of Biden MORE and “Fox News Sunday.”

“The state has authorized these flights and the Taliban will not let them out of the airport,” he added.

When Wallace pressured what the Taliban are demanding, McCaul said the circumstances “become a hostage situation.”

“Well, they don’t clean planes to leave. They have been at the airport for the last two days, these planes, and they are not allowed to leave, ”McCaul said.

“We know the reason why the Taliban want something in return. In reality, Chris, it becomes a hostage situation where they will not allow American citizens to leave until they receive full recognition from the United States of America.” added.

The United States completed its mission to withdraw from Afghanistan on Tuesday, but some U.S. citizens still remain in the country.

McCaul said Sunday that “hundreds of Americans” are still in Afghanistan, but Secretary of State Anthony BlinkAntony Blinken National defense and security at night: out of Afghanistan, but stranded. Blinken: Taliban must maintain commitments to international community Has Biden’s Afghanistan debacle sown the seeds of another 9/11? MONTH last week he said “less than 200 and probably more than 100” U.S. citizens are still in the country.

The Hill has contacted the State Department and the White House for comment.

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