France ends evacuations at Kabul airport
World | Aug 28, 2021, 07:16 AM IST“The team at France's embassy in Kabul reached Abu Dhabi before returning to France,” the statement said, suggesting that Ambassador David Martinon was returning home, too.
“The team at France's embassy in Kabul reached Abu Dhabi before returning to France,” the statement said, suggesting that Ambassador David Martinon was returning home, too.
The Pentagon said there was one Islamic State suicide bomber, who struck at the Abbey Gate, where desperate Afghans were crowding to try and enter Kabul airport grounds and where U.S. troops were conducting security checks.
The Taliban comprise several factions, few of which are anti-Pakistan. According to Brookings, the beneficiary of the collapse of the Afghan government is likely to be the Pakistan Taliban who have been at war with the Pakistani army for years.
Ultimately, the attack strategically benefits the Haqqani network as it will likely speed up foreign departures and prevent the prospect of further evacuations.
The Taliban group was never designated by the US government as a terrorist organization, but the Haqqani network, which has close ties to al-Qaeda and Pakistani intelligence, has long held that distinction.
There is growing concern among the western allies that Islamist terrorists may have successfully infiltrated the thousands of Afghans and other foreigners, and some of them may have actually boarded planes for Europe and the US.
Speaking about Afghans who have been evacuated to India, MEA said, "MHA has announced e-emergency visas. These are six-month visas. So they are currently coming here under the six-month visa regime. We will take it from there."
Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said the last of the German military aircraft and troops arrived in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Thursday evening.
"There are no fights in Kabul fortunately, but there were fights in other regions, in other cities, and as we work in the whole country we were very concerned by the issues of fights," ICRC spokesperson said.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of victims of this terrorist attack. Today’s attacks reinforce the need for the world to stand unitedly against terrorism and all those who provide sanctuaries to terrorists."
Taking to Twitter, Boris Johnson said, "I utterly condemn the barbaric terrorist attack in Kabul in which Afghans and members of the US military lost their lives. The threat of terrorist attack is one of the constraints we’ve been operating under, but our evacuation effort continues with over 12,000 extracted so far."
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says his group “strongly condemns” Thursday's attack and is paying close attention to security. The attack was believed to be carried out by Afghanistan's Islamic State group affiliate, which is separate from and more radical than the Taliban.
Kabul Airport Blasts: Two powerful explosions rocked Kabul International Airport on Thursday evening while evacuations were underway amid Taliban take over. However, in a relief, reports say that all Indians are safe in the Kabul blasts.
Reacting to Modi's statement in an exclusive conversation with Radio Pakistan correspondent Bilal Khan Mehsud in Kabul on Thursday, Taliban leader Shahabuddin Dilwar warned India not to interfere in the internal affairs of Afghanistan.
Canada and European allies pressed for more time but lost the argument, and as a practical matter, they may be forced to end their evacuations a couple of days before the last American troops leave. Several countries haven’t said yet when they plan to end their operations, perhaps hoping to avoid yet another fatal crash at an airport that’s one of the last ways out of the country.
Afghanistan crisis: The agreement reached between the two parties will be announced during a press conference by the Taliban and Northern Alliance.
India and other countries started evacuating their citizens from the war-ravaged country after the Taliban entered the presidential palace in Kabul on August 15 and declared its victory over the government after months of violence.
TOLO News had tweeted that its reporter Ziar Yaad was killed by the Taliban in Kabul. However, Yaad later tweeted he was safe.
"After the marriage, they took the young woman away. But the father found out after three days that it was not only the Taliban who married her and had sex with her, she was being raped by four others every night, a Afghan women told Hollie McKay.
In a presser, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid in a presser said, "The US should not encourage Afganistan doctors, engineer and elite to leave Afghanistan. We want peace and stability and evacuate foreign people by August 31 but we don't want Afghans to leave."
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