File image.
On August 21, Pentagon officials revealed that 17,000 people, including 2,500 Americans, were evacuated from the Afghan capital Kabul over the past week. At least 3,800 people were evacuated in the last 24 hours only.
At a press briefing, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that he does not have a “perfect figure” on how many Americans remain in Kabul and Afghanistan in general.
“We’re fighting against both time and space,” Reuters quoted Kirby as saying. “That’s the race that we’re in right now. And we’re trying to do this as quickly and safely as possible.”
The spokesman said that the US goal is to “get as many people out as we can as fast as we can. And so that’s what the focus is.”
A day earlier, US forces exited Hamid Karzai International Airport for the first time since the fall of Kabul in the hands of the Taliban around a week ago to retrieve 169 Americans. The Pentagon didn’t rule out the possibility of conducting similar operations in the future.
Despite the presence of more than 5,000 US troops and forces from other nationals, the situation at Hamid Karzai International Airport remains chaotic. The gates of the airport are still closed. Tear gas was reportedly used against the hundreds of Afghans gathered outside the airport.
U.S. military service members comfort infants at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. #HKIA pic.twitter.com/8utbOwtcsF
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) August 20, 2021
New video out of Kabul Airport. #Afghanistan
— FJ (@Natsecjeff) August 21, 2021
The scene at Kabul airport several hours ago per source from an NGO who is trying to get people out. Main problem is that it’s impossible to pass the gates and get to the planes even if you are on an evacuees list pic.twitter.com/b3bZn5B34Z
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) August 21, 2021
Inside the airport, the situation is not any better. Afghan activists revealed that US troops have been distributing MREs [Meal Ready to Eat] containing pork, which is forbidden in Islam, to Afghans waiting to be evacuating without notifying them.
The problem is what Americans throw these Afghans staying at the Kabul airport is Pork Sausage, which is forbidden to eat for Muslims.
“95% of people here don’t know how to read or speak English” pic.twitter.com/BMWclQrTd0
— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) August 21, 2021
While thousands of Afghans are trying everything in their power to flee the country, others are determined to stay and fight the Taliban.
Resistance forces in northern Afghanistan announced that they had taken three districts close to the Panjshir valley where remnants of government forces and other armed groups have gathered under the command of Ahmad Massoud jr.
Breaking:
Khinjan district of #baghlan province was also liberated today by the #Afghan resistance. In Andarab district dozens of #taliban surrendered with several humvees and weapons. Fighting alongside some brave men. Liberation continues @Sarfaraz1201 pic.twitter.com/XpS3TogNEM— Wazir Akbar Mohmand (@AkbarMohmand2) August 21, 2021
9 taliban terrorists surrendered to the Resistance in Andarab district. 6 of them were nationals from #Pakistan
The resistance commander is wearing a large smile on his face pic.twitter.com/aJihVhf9Ne— Wazir Akbar Mohmand (@AkbarMohmand2) August 21, 2021
Afghanistan will not likely stabilize and overcome the shock of US withdrawal any time soon, despite the Taliban’s ongoing efforts to secure local and international recognition.
