Since evacuation efforts have begun in Afghanistan, over 100,000 Afghans and Americans have been able to leave the war-torn country. With the August 31 deadline on the horizon, the US Embassy in Afghanistan has urged Americans who are still in the country to leave as soon as possible.
A statement on the embassy’s website urged all US citizens that are still in Kabul airport to leave immediately. The embassy stressed that the US citizens should not travel to the airport at this time and avoid all airport entrances. This follows the warning given by US President Joe Biden that another bombing at the airport is likely following the suicide blast last week that killed 13 US soldiers and dozens of Afghans.
“Due to a specific, credible threat, all US citizens in the vicinity of Kabul airport (HKIA), including the South (Airport Circle) gate, the new Ministry of the Interior, and the gate near the Panjshir Petrol station on the northwest side of the airport should leave the airport immediately,” the embassy stated. “US citizens should avoid traveling to the airport and avoid all airport gates at this time.”
In response to the suicide bombing that was later claimed by Islamic militant group ISIS-K, Biden ordered a drone strike to be carried out. The Pentagon later announced that the strike killed two planners of the extremist group, and Biden also vowed that the US would respond with another strike should another bombing by the Islamic group happen again.
In the midst of the criticism aimed at the US leader and his administration, many have pointed out that it was under Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, that 5,000 Taliban prisoners were released, and troops were drawn down to 2,500. Trump had also negotiated with the Taliban regarding the withdrawal along with his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Previously, MSNBC host Mehdi Hassan threw Pompeo’s words about the Taliban back to him after the now-former Secretary of State claimed that he always thought the insurgent group was evil and not to be trusted. A split-screen clip of Hassan’s show featured remarks made by Pompeo as of late in his attempt to reframe the situation. The clip then featured Pompeo during his time as Secretary of State, praising the insurgent group after they successfully negotiated with the Taliban.