Tensions are rising at Kabul’s airport following reports of an imminent terrorist attack at the facility.
Nearly 1,000 Americans waiting for a flight from Kabul’s airport have been told to leave after the US embassy in Afghanistan warned of a possible terrorist attack. Officials fear that groups such as ISIS-K, which considers both Western countries and the Taliban as enemies, are planning attacks against thousands of people stranded waiting for an evacuation flight.
The group; ISIS-K, is a self-proclaimed Southeast Asian divided faction of the notorious terrorist group ISIS. Its full name is the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province, but is known by several names – ISK, ISISK, IS-KP, ISIS-K or Daesh-Korasan.
The group is particularly known for being extreme, and is an enemy of both Western and Taliban forces but ISIS has denied any connection to the group.
Countries have now decided whether to continue with evacuation flights, halting or withdrawing several declarations and leaving thousands in Afghanistan under Taliban control.
Several European countries announced on Thursday morning that they would halt airlifts from Afghanistan, citing “very credible” evidence of an imminent attack and withdrawal of US troops. That means thousands looking to escape the Taliban regime may have to wait longer for support – or risk dangerous smuggling trips out of the country.
British Armed Forces Minister James Happy told the BBC there was “very credible” evidence of an impending attack and acknowledged that those desperate to leave Afghanistan cannot be saved.
Last night, US Foreign Minister; Antony J. Blinken confirmed that the US embassy in Kabul is “aggressively approaching” hundreds of Americans who are trying to flee the country despite being asked to leave the airport.
“FOR THE REMAINING APPROXIMATELY 1,000 CONTACTS THAT WE MAY HAVE AMERICANS WISHING TO LEAVE AFGHANISTAN, WE ARE AGGRESSIVELY CONTACTING THEM SEVERAL TIMES A DAY THROUGH MULTIPLE CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION – PHONE, EMAIL, TEXT MESSAGING – TO DETERMINE FOR WHETHER THEY STILL WANT TO LEAVE. AND TO GET THEM THE LATEST INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DO SO. SOME MAY NO LONGER BE IN THE COUNTRY. SOME MAY HAVE CLAIMED TO BE AMERICAN BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE. SOME MAY CHOOSE TO STAY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO IDENTIFY THE STATUS AND PLANS OF THESE PEOPLE IN THE DAYS TO COME.”
