The Taliban have once again pledged to the Americans that they will allow them Afghans who want to leave the country to do so, the US Secretary of State said today Anthony Blinken visiting Qatar.
The Islamists, who seized power in Afghanistan on August 15 after a lightning operation after the withdrawal of foreign forces, said in the United States that they would “allow people with the necessary documents to leave freely,” Blinken said in an interview. Press from Doha.
“We will monitor them,” he said, adding that “the international community as a whole expects the Taliban to live up to this commitment.”
The administration of US President Joe Biden is under pressure as publicity often comes to the fore over the presence of hundreds of people, including Americans, who are trapped at Mazar-i-Sharif airport in northern Afghanistan, according to Marina Lee. director of the American non-governmental organization Ascend Athletics.
Six hundred to 1,300 people are trying to flee Afghanistan, including 19 Americans, with the help of this NGO and other organizations, she added.
Blinken explained that the Taliban did not bar anyone with legal documents from leaving the country, but added that not all those who tried to board charter flights were available. There is no “hostage situation” in Mazar-i-Sharif, the US Secretary of State assured.
“Qatar exceeded expectations and your generosity saved lives”
“We are not able to confirm the list of passengers, to identify the passengers of these planes, (we do not know) the security protocols, nor where they will land. “These are issues that cause us real concern,” he said. “At the moment I am talking to you, we are discussing to resolve these issues.”
Blinken, who is accompanied on his trip by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, also thanked Qatar for its support and efforts in the operation to remove thousands of people from Afghanistan.
“Qatar has exceeded expectations and generosity has saved your lives,” Austin said during the same press conference.
For his part, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, for his part, reiterated that Kabul airport, which remains closed after the departure of the last Americans, will reopen soon, but did not give a clear timetable.
This is the first trip to the region by high-ranking US officials since the Taliban seized power and the last US troops left Afghanistan two weeks later.
The Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, hosted a dinner for the two US ministers on Monday night.
“Many countries intervened to take part in the evacuation from Afghanistan, but none did more than Qatar,” Blinken said today, referring to the estimated 58,000 refugees who passed through Doha.
“The men, women and children who passed through here will not forget it, nor will we,” he added.
Today, the US Secretary of State is going to meet with officials at the US al-Udeid air base in Qatar, where thousands of Afghan refugees have taken refuge.
Austin, for his part, will tour the Gulf region, passing through Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
