Many were feared dead in twin explosions near Kabul's airport on Thursday, according to Pentagon, which said civilians and US service members were among the casualties. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said one blast occurred near the airport's Abbey Gate and the other close to nearby Baron Hotel.
US President Joe Biden pledged on Thursday to hunt down the perpetrators of the suicide bombings in Kabul that killed 12 American troops. "We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay," Biden said in an address from the White House during which he praised the slain US troops as "heroes."
According to a Reuters report, a Taliban official pegged the casualties at at least 13, including children, in what is being suspected to be a suicide attack. It has been labelled a "complex attack" by the US military, according to AFP. Pentagon said several US troops were killed in the attack, and more were wounded.
The western allies led by US had earlier in the day urged Afghans to leave the area due to a threat by Islamic State. They said they had intelligence that suicide bombers tied to the Afghan arm of Islamic State group -- the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) -- were threatening to attack the airport ahead of US's August 31 deadline to finalize the evacuation. The group is known to be at odds with the Taliban.
The explosion comes amid evacuations carried out by several countries. President Joe Biden has said US intends to complete its pullout from Afghanistan by August 31. Over 90,000 Afghans and foreigners have fled Afghanistan via the US-led airlift since Taliban took control of the country on August 15.
Here are the highlights on Afghanistan-Taliban crisis:
World Leaders Condemn Horrific Attacks In Kabul"Twelve US servicemen were killed and 15 injured in the attacks in Kabul. Despite this attack, we're continuing the mission of evacuation," says Commander of US Central Command, Marine Corps General Kenneth F McKenzie Jr pic.twitter.com/v9mTvmqnlB
- ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2021
"This tragedy (explosions at Kabul airport) should have never been allowed to happen", US former president Donald Trump said in a statement. pic.twitter.com/NS3Jy6YLiu
- ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2021
#JustIn | United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the terrorist attack at the #KabulAirport
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 26, 2021
"The incident underscores the volatility of the situation on the ground in #Afghanistan," UN Secretary-General Antonio
(ANI) pic.twitter.com/MhDW6jNIq2
#JustIn | "India strongly condemns the bomb blasts in #Kabul today. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of this terrorist attack. Our thoughts and prayers also go out to the injured": Ministry of External Affairs #KabulAiport #Afghanistan
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 26, 2021
Four US Marines were killed and three wounded in Thursday's explosions at Kabul airport, US sources told Reuters, in what the Pentagon said was a "complex attack" during its evacuation mission from Afghanistan. In a statement, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby confirmed multiple US fatalities but did not give details. The US service members were among those killed when at least two blasts tore through crowds thronging the airport gates. A US official, who did not want to be identified, told Reuters four US personnel were killed and three wounded. Other U.S. sources gave the same figures.
Kabul Airport Blast: At Least 40 Reportedly Dead In Kabul Suicide Blasts; ISIS Hand SuspectedThere were at least two explosions near Kabul's airport amid a huge and chaotic evacuation effort from Afghanistan on Thursday, Pentagon said, with civilians and U.S. service members among the casualties of what was described as a "complex attack." Read here.
Britain will continue the operation to evacuate nationals and Afghans from Kabul despite Thursday's "barbaric" bomb attack, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, according to AFP. "We've been ready for it," he said of the attack. "We're going to continue with that operation, we're now coming towards the very end of it in any event."
"We're going to work flat out... getting people through as fast as they can still, and we're going to keep going up until the last moment," said the prime minister, shortly after chairing a meeting of the emergency COBR committee. He said that members of the US military had "very sadly" lost their lives in the attacks, as well as "many Afghan casualties".
Germany has pulled out all its soldiers from Afghanistan with its last evacuation flight from Kabul, Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said Thursday, according to AFP. "All soldiers, members of the foreign ministry and federal police who have led this mission to a safe end for us on the ground have been flown out of Kabul," said the minister, adding that the military evacuation mission has therefore now ended.
Several US troops were killed in the bomb attack at Kabul airport Thursday, and more were wounded, the Pentagon said in a statement, reported AFP. "We can confirm that a number of US service members were killed in today's complex attack on Kabul airport," said spokesman John Kirby. "A number of others are being treated for wounds," he said, calling it a "heinous attack."
The death count from two blasts Thursday in crowds outside Kabul's airport could be as high as 20, a spokesman for the Taliban told AFP. "Our initial information shows between 13 and 20 killed and 52 wounded," chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.
#BREAKING UK to continue evacuation operation despite Kabul attack: Johnson pic.twitter.com/mElcgTd88c
- AFP News Agency (@AFP) August 26, 2021
Britain's defence ministry said none of its military or government staff in Kabul were amongst the casualties from explosions near the city's airport earlier on Thursday, reported Reuters. "There have been no reported UK military or UK Government casualties following the incidents in Kabul," the Ministry of Defence said. "UK forces are working closely with our partners to provide security and medical assistance."
France is still seeking to evacuate hundreds more people from Afghanistan ahead of a looming deadline, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday, warning of an "extremely risky" situation in the wake of blasts around Kabul airport, reported AFP.
"We will do everything we can" to bring to France these Afghan citizens and dual nationals who had been in its embassy and are currently outside the perimeter of the airport in 20 buses, Macron said on a visit to Ireland, also confirming that the French ambassador would leave Afghanistan and work from Paris.
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the bloody attack against Kabul's airport, the White House said Thursday, reported AFP. "The president has been briefed and he is in the Situation Room," an official told AFP on condition of anonymity. According to a Reuters report, a Taliban official has said at least 13 have died in the attacks.
#BREAKING Two explosions in 'complex attack' at Kabul airport: Pentagon pic.twitter.com/3BbsBBptxM
- AFP News Agency (@AFP) August 26, 2021
#BREAKING UK govt to hold crisis meeting after Kabul airport explosion: Downing Street pic.twitter.com/BGZzJ4qk2N
- AFP News Agency (@AFP) August 26, 2021
A suspected suicide bomb exploded outside Kabul airport on Thursday, killing at least 13 people including children, a Taliban official said, after the US and allies urged Afghans to leave the area because of a threat by Islamic State, reported Reuters. The official said many Taliban guards were wounded. A US official said US service members were among the wounded, adding he was citing an initial report and cautioning that it could change. He said there were casualties but did not know how many or of what nationality.
The US military confirmed Thursday that a large explosion occurred outside the Kabul airport in Afghanistan, as the US-led airlift of thousands continued inside the compound, reported AFP. "We can confirm an explosion outside Kabul airport. Casualties are unclear at this time. We will provide additional details when we can," said Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby. US and allied officials have said they had intelligence that suicide bombers were threatening to attack the airport.
Afghanistan: Afghan Evacuations Will Continue Through August 31 Deadline: PentagonThe Pentagon rejected reports Thursday that they are preparing to end evacuations from Afghanistan before this weekend, saying the operations from Kabul airport will continue until August 31. Read here.
Can Taliban Fly? Video Shows Fighters Taxiing Captured US-Made ChopperA video of Taliban fighters testing a captured US-made UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter has emerged online. In the video shared on Twitter, the aircraft can be seen taxiing on a runway at Kandahar Airport in southeastern Afghanistan.
Hungary said Thursday it had ended its evacuation mission from Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban takeover of the country, with 540 people having been airlifted out, reported AFP. The vast majority of those evacuated were Afghan nationals who had co-operated with Hungarian forces in the country. "This evacuation operation... is over," Defence Minister Tibor Benko told reporters in the capital Budapest, saying the government had successfully taken out all those it wanted to.
Canadian forces in Kabul ended their efforts to evacuate citizens and Afghans earlier on Thursday, ahead of an August 31 deadline, acting chief of the defense staff General Wayne Eyre said, reported Reuters. "We stayed in Afghanistan as long as we could...we wish we could have stayed longer and rescued everyone," Eyre told a news conference. He said Canada had evacuated around 3,700 Canadian and Afghan citizens.
Roughly 13,400 people were airlifted from Afghanistan on Wednesday, raising the total number of those evacuated by the US and coalition partners since August 14 to about 95,700, the White House said on Thursday, reported Reuters.
Afghanistan Evacuation: France To End Kabul Evacuation Operation Friday: PMFrance will fully end its operation to evacuate French nationals and Afghans in danger from Taliban-controlled Kabul by Friday evening, Prime Minister Jean Castex said. Read here.
Qatar is offering COVID-19 vaccines to evacuees from Afghanistan who are temporarily staying in the Gulf Arab state, which has been facilitating global evacuation efforts since Taliban seized Kabul, the foreign ministry said on Thursday, reported Reuters. Qatar, which hosts the largest US military base in the region, has so far helped evacuate more than 40,000 people to Doha and will continue to facilitate international efforts in "the coming days", the ministry said in a statement. Those who do not immediately transit to other countries are being provided with a PCR test and COVID-19 vaccine, if requested, it said, adding that Doha is temporarily hosting "a large number of evacuees most of them students, families and journalists."
Afghanistan Live Update: UAE Helps 28,000 People Flee Afghanistan: OfficialThe United Arab Emirates has helped evacuate 28,000 people from Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover of Kabul, a senior Emirati official said Thursday. Read here.
"High Terror Threat" At Kabul Airport, Leave Immediately: US, AlliesWestern nations warned their citizens Thursday to immediately leave the surrounds of Kabul airport over a terrorist threat, as thousands of people try to reach a dwindling number of evacuation flights." Read here.
The Centre has told 31 opposition parties that the immediate priority is the evacuation of all Indians stranded in Afghanistan, sources said on Thursday afternoon. This was during an all-party meet called by PM Modi to brief the opposition on the "critical" Afghanistan situation. Around 15,000 people have sought assistance in fleeing from Afghanistan, sources said, adding that Foreign Minister S Jaishankar had stressed that evacuation of Indians is "top priority". Read here.
Germany said Wednesday it has received assurance from a Taliban negotiator that Afghans who have the right documents will still be allowed to leave Afghanistan after the United States' withdrawal deadline on August 31, reported news agency AFP.
Germany's envoy Markus Potzel said on Twitter he had met with Taliban deputy chief negotiator Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, who "assured me that Afghans with legal documents will continue to have the opportunity to travel on commercial flights after August 31".
#USA
- AFP Photo (@AFPphoto) August 25, 2021
Kabul's fall evokes painful memories for Vietnamese-Americans
📸 Frederic J. BROWN #AFP https://t.co/8R29jhF7c5 pic.twitter.com/gCyX8LEHei
#BREAKING Talks with Taliban must continue to safeguard Afghan gains: German Chancellor Merkel pic.twitter.com/Fn5hNjfDMz
- AFP News Agency (@AFP) August 25, 2021
#UPDATE More than 80,000 people have been evacuated from #Afghanistan since August 14, but huge crowds remain outside #Kabul airport hoping to flee the threat of reprisals and repression in the Taliban-ruled country before an August 31 deadline https://t.co/sU6o0V34ib pic.twitter.com/Epl5b1A7yQ
- AFP News Agency (@AFP) August 25, 2021
Mainly Muslim Turkey was part of a NATO mission in Afghanistan and still has hundreds of troops at Kabul airport.
More than 80,000 people have been evacuated since August 14, but huge crowds remain outside Kabul airport hoping to flee the threat of reprisals and repression in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, AFP reported.
From trucks stuffed with carpets, bedding, clothes and even goats, around 200 Afghan refugees look beyond the horizon toward Spin Boldak in their country's south, waiting to return home from Pakistan.
Dreading another period of harsh rule after the Taliban's rapid takeover following the US troop withdrawal, thousands have been desperately trying to flee Afghanistan, with chaotic images emerging from the Kabul airport.
But some families want to repatriate to their homeland, saying the Taliban will bring stability to the war-torn nation, AFP reported.
Schools and rallies bombed, hospitals targeted and commuters ambushed: for years, the Hazara community has suffered some of Afghanistan's most violent assaults.
Now, with the Taliban back in control, the majority Shiite Muslim group fears the Sunni hardliners may again turn on them -- just as they did during their last regime in the 1990s. Read Here.
In a phone call, the two leaders "expressed their readiness to step up efforts to combat threats of terrorism and drug trafficking coming from the territory of Afghanistan," the Kremlin said in a statement.
China has established its first diplomatic contact with the Taliban in Kabul after the terrorist group took control of Afghanistan and the two sides now have "unimpeded and effective communication", a Chinese official said on Wednesday.
The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan on August 15, two weeks before the US was set to complete its troop withdrawal after a costly two-decade war, PTI reported.
The international community must maintain dialogue with the Taliban if it is to protect any improvements made in Afghanistan during the last two decades of NATO's deployment, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday.
"Our goal must be to preserve as much as possible what we have achieved in terms of changes in Afghanistan in the last 20 years. This is something the international community must talk about with the Taliban," Merkel said, in a speech to parliament.
Hundreds of Afghans protested outside United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in New Delhi here on Wednesday, demanding refugee cards.
The Afghan refugees have been demonstrating in front of the UNHRC office for the past three days, ANI reported.
We're evolving our strategies accordingly. Studying this intent of our neighbours, we've gone in for a Triad. We're evolving & developing our capabilities accordingly...Conventionally we're very strong, we're capable of dealing with adversaries with our conventional forces: CDS pic.twitter.com/OuxVpEqSmW
- ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2021
For years the Taliban's top spokesman shunned the public eye, even as he amassed hundreds of thousands of followers online where he live-tweeted the insurgency.
But days after the Taliban captured Kabul following the collapse of the US-backed government, Zabihullah Mujahid presented himself to the public for the first time in a surprise press conference in the Afghan capital.
Schools and rallies bombed, hospitals targeted and commuters ambushed: for years, the Hazara community has suffered some of Afghanistan's most violent assaults.
Now, with the Taliban back in control, the majority Shiite Muslim group fears the Sunni hardliners may again turn on them -- just as they did during their last regime in the 1990s.
Ashraf Haidari, an economist at the Aghan finance ministry, was waiting anxiously at home when a call came from the Taliban: a commander ordered him back to work so he could help run the country once the "crazy foreigners" had left.
Like thousands of others working for the outgoing Western-backed administration, swept aside by the Islamist militants' lightning conquest of Afghanistan, he worried he might be the victim of reprisals.
President Joe Biden said on Tuesday the United States is on pace to finish evacuations from Afghanistan by Aug. 31, but left open the chance of extending the deadline, saying reaching that goal depends on cooperation from the country's new Taliban rulers.
The Taliban said earlier on Tuesday that all foreign evacuations from the country must be completed by Aug. 31, and asked Washington to stop urging highly skilled Afghans to leave the country.
Afghans on Wednesday faced an increasingly desperate race to escape life under the Taliban after President Joe Biden confirmed US-led evacuations will end next week.
More than 70,000 people have already been evacuated, but huge crowds remain outside Kabul airport hoping to flee the threat of reprisals and repression in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
Influential lawmakers from the G-7 countries have urged that India should be invited to attend the bloc's meetings that seeks to develop a common and united front for global security and regional stability in the aftermath of the Taliban taking control over Afghanistan.
US Senator Bob Menendez, who is also the Chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his counterparts from Italy, France, Germany, Japan, the UK and the European Parliament in a joint statement also said African Union should be invited to attend individual G-7 meetings when appropriate.
The G-7 countries are united on its stand on Taliban and they agreed that the legitimacy of any future government in Afghanistan depends on the armed group's approach to prevent the war-torn nation from being used as a "base for terrorism", US President Joe Biden has said.
Biden's remarks on Tuesday came hours after a virtual meeting with the leaders of the G-7 bloc, the UN, NATO, and the European Union. G-7 is an inter-governmental political forum of seven advanced nations comprising the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the UK.
