As the US military ramped up its airlift for Americans and Afghans escaping the Islamist organization, the White House claimed Tuesday that the Taliban had assumed that people would be able to travel safely to Kabul airport.
According to a White House official, the US military has evacuated 3,200 people so far, including 1,100 on Tuesday alone — US citizens, permanent residents, and their families aboard 13 flights.
The White House announced earlier Tuesday that 11,000 US citizens, including diplomats, contractors, and others, remain within the country, the majority of whom are awaiting evacuation following the Taliban’s takeover.
Thousands of US soldiers were at the airport as the Pentagon intended to increase flights of its massive C-17 transport planes to as many as two dozen per day, in order to finish the departure by the August 31 deadline.
“Now that we’ve established the flow, we expect those numbers to rise,” said a White House official who spoke on the condition of anonymity when providing the revised evacuation data Tuesday.
Officials from the United States said they were in communication with Taliban commanders to ensure that flight operations at Hamid Karzai International Airport remained secure and that citizens and Afghans desiring to flee were able to do so safely.
At the Pentagon, Major General Hank Taylor stated, “We have had no hostile interactions, no attack, and no threat from the Taliban.”
However, State Department spokesman Ned Price indicated on Tuesday that the US could elect to keep its primary diplomatic presence, which is presently based at the airport following the closure of the US embassy, after August 31.
“If it’s safe and responsible for us to stay longer,” Price added, “that’s something we might be able to consider.”
He also urged the Taliban to keep their promises to respect citizens’ rights, particularly women’s rights.
Afghans awarded US refugee visas, notably for working as translators for US and NATO personnel, other foreign individuals, and other unspecified “at risk” Afghans are also being transported.
