KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – Western nations warned Thursday of a possible attack on Kabul airport, where thousands gathered as they tried to flee Taliban-controlled Afghanistan during the waning days of a bridge massive air. Britain said an attack could arrive in a few hours.
Several countries urged people to avoid the airport, where an official said there was a threat of a suicide attack. But a few days (or even hours for some nations) before the evacuation effort ended, few seemed to heed the call.
Over the past week, the airport has been the scene of some of the hottest images of the chaotic end of America’s longest war and the Taliban’s acquisition as it landed after flight to retreat. those who fear a return to the brutal regime of the militants. .
Some countries have already completed their evacuations and have begun withdrawing their soldiers and diplomats, indicating the beginning of the end of one of the largest air bridges in history. The Taliban have so far honored a commitment not to attack Western forces during the evacuation, but insist foreign troops will have to be outside the August 31 U.S. self-imposed deadline..
But overnight, new warnings surfaced in Western capitals about a threat from members of the Islamic State group in Afghanistan, which has likely seen its ranks strengthened by the release of prisoners by the Taliban during its savings nationwide.
British Armed Forces Minister James Heappey told the BBC on Thursday that there were “very, very credible reports of an impending attack” at the airport, possibly in “hours”.
Heappey admitted that people are desperate to leave and “there is a lot of hunger in the queue to take risks, but the notification of this threat is very credible and there is a real imminence.”
“There is every possibility that as more reports appear, we can change the advice again and prosecute people again, but there is no guarantee,” he added.
On Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. embassy warned three-door citizens of the airport to leave immediately due to an unspecified security threat. Australia, Britain and New Zealand also advised their citizens on Thursday not to go to the airport, and the Australian Foreign Minister said there was “a very high threat of a terrorist attack”.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied any attack was imminent. “It’s not right,” he wrote in a text message after being asked about the warnings. He did not elaborate.
On Thursday, the Taliban sprayed a water cannon at congregants at an airport gate to try to drive away the crowd, while someone threw tear gas canisters elsewhere. While some fled, others sat on the ground, covered their faces and waited for the harmful fumes.
Nadia Sadat, a 27-year-old Afghan woman, took her 2-year-old daughter with her out of the airport. She and her husband, who had worked with coalition forces, missed the call from a number they believed was the State Department and tried to enter the airport without any luck. Her husband had advanced through the crowd to try to get them in.
“We have to find a way to evacuate because our lives are in danger,” Sadat said. “My husband received several threatening messages from unknown sources. We have no choice but to escape. “
Subsequently, the shots echoed in the area while Sadat waited. “There is anarchy because of the immense crowds,” he said, blaming the United States for the chaos.
Aman Karimi, 50, escorted her daughter and family to the airport, fearing the Taliban would direct her because of her husband’s work with NATO.
“The Taliban have already started looking for those who have worked with NATO,” he said. “They look for them from house to house at night.”
Many Afghans have felt the same way after the Taliban took over. The hardline Islamic group regained control of the country nearly 20 years after being ousted in a U.S.-led invasion following the September 11 attacks, which Al Qaeda orchestrated while protected by the group.
Amid concerns over the attacks, military cargo planes leaving Kabul airport are already using flares to stop any possible missile fire. But there are also concerns that someone may detonate explosives in crowds outside the airport.
“We received information at the military level from the United States, but also from other countries, that there were indications that there was a threat of suicide attacks on the mass of people,” Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said. of the threat around Kabul airport.
Senior U.S. officials said Wednesday’s embassy warning was related to specific threats related to the Islamic State group and possible vehicle bombs. Officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to discuss ongoing military operations.
The Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan emerged from disgruntled Taliban members who have an even more extreme view of Islam. Taking the name of Khorasan, a historical name of the largest region, extremists undertook a series of brutal attacks in Afghanistan that included an assault in 2020 on a Kabul maternity hospital that killed babies and women.
The Taliban have been fighting Islamic State militants in Afghanistan. However, his advance across the country probably freed ISIS fighters alongside the Taliban. There are particular concerns that extremists could confiscate weapons and heavy equipment abandoned by Afghan troops fleeing the Taliban advance.
Amid warnings and the pending U.S. withdrawal, Canada ended its evacuations as European nations did or prepared to do the same.
Lieutenant Colonel Georges Eiden, representing the Luxembourg army in neighboring Pakistan, said Friday would mark the official end of the U.S. allies, although some have stopped earlier.
“The Americans want to take advantage of the last four days they have left and the Taliban gave them to get as many Americans out as possible,” he said.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex also told RTL radio that his country’s efforts would be halted on Friday evening.
Danish Defense Minister Trine Bramsen warned bluntly: “It is no longer safe to fly in or out of Kabul.”
The last flight from Denmark has already left and Poland and Belgium have also announced the end of their evacuations. The Dutch government said the US had told them to leave on Thursday.
The Taliban have said they will allow Afghans to leave for commercial flights after the deadline next week, but it is still unclear which airlines would return to a militant-controlled airport. Turkish presidency spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said there were talks between his country and the Taliban to allow Turkish civilian experts to help run the facility.
The Taliban have pledged to return Afghanistan to security and pledged not to take revenge on those who opposed it or to delay progress on human rights. But many Afghans are skeptical.
A journalist from private broadcaster Tolo News described being hit by the Taliban, while scaring off what the Taliban rule might contain. Ziar Yad said the fighters also beat his comrade and confiscated cameras, technical equipment and a mobile phone while trying to report poverty in Kabul.
“The issue has been shared with Taliban leaders; however, the perpetrators have not yet been arrested, which poses a serious threat to free speech,” Yad wrote on Twitter.
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Lawless reports from London and Gambrell from Dubai, UAE. Associated Press writers Sylvie Corbet in Paris; Jan M. Olsen of Copenhagen, Denmark; Tameem Akhgar and Andrew Wilks in Istanbul; James LaPorta in Boca Raton, Florida; Mike Corder in The Hague, The Netherlands; Philip Crowther in Islamabad and Colleen Barry in Milan contributed to this report.