The Defense and State Departments said in a joint statement that steps were being taken to secure the airport. 6,000 US troops must protect the thousands of diplomats and civilians who gathered at the airport last day.
Many Afghans have also fled to the airport and the situation is chaotic. People can be seen fighting to get to evacuated planes on social media.
According to the statement, the US military is in charge of controlling air traffic. Since Sunday, only military aircraft have departed from Kabul, but civilian air traffic is scheduled to be restored.
The embassy in Kabul was one of the largest in the world. In total, more than 4,000 people, both Americans and Afghans, worked at the embassy. Five hundred of them have now left the country.
Trump: Biden should go
Former US President Donald Trump has said his successor should resign due to the Taliban’s rapid invasion of Afghanistan. “It is time for Joe Biden to shamefully step aside for what he allowed to happen,” Trump said in a statement on Sunday.
Referring to the outcome of last year’s disputed presidential election, he added, “It shouldn’t be difficult because he wasn’t legitimately elected anyway.”
Earlier this year, after 20 years of the US military presence in Afghanistan, Biden ordered the withdrawal of troops from the country, and NATO partners followed suit. The Taliban took advantage of the withdrawal, which should be completed by the end of the month, to begin their rapid advance.
But it was the Trump administration that reached an agreement with the Taliban on the withdrawal of US forces during the Doha negotiations in Qatar last year.
60 countries: borders are open
More than 60 countries issued a joint statement calling on the Taliban to give those wishing to leave Afghanistan the opportunity to do so. Airports and border crossings must remain open so that Afghan nationals and foreigners can leave the country.
“Those in power in Afghanistan are responsible for protecting lives and property and restoring order and security immediately,” the statement, also signed by the Netherlands, said. Other signatories include the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, South Korea and Italy.
The statement continued, “The Afghan people deserve to live in safety, security and dignity. We as an international community are ready to help them.”
