On Tuesday, the United States announced that the Taliban promised to ensure safe passage for thousands of civilians seeking to reach Kabul Airport in preparation for leaving Afghanistan. Thousands of Americans residing in Afghanistan and Afghans who assisted the West are trying to flee the country for fear of Taliban retaliation, but they are stuck outside the airport grounds in areas controlled by the Taliban.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters at the White House, "The Taliban has informed us that they are prepared to ensure safe passage for civilians to the airport, and we will hold them accountable for this commitment," noting that Washington is also "negotiating" with the Taliban regarding the timeline for the evacuation of thousands of Americans and Afghans by American planes.
Sullivan pointed to reports indicating that individuals heading to the airport have faced "pushing and hitting," clarifying that "efforts are being made to resolve these issues" through a communication channel with the Taliban. He stated that these individuals were able to reach the airport and confirmed that "a large number of them" have arrived, although he acknowledged that the situation is not stable.
In Berlin, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas condemned the Taliban for obstructing access for Afghans wishing to be evacuated to Kabul Airport. He stated, "The Taliban have set up checkpoints all over the city, and they control the area, including near the airport." He clarified that access to the airport is restricted to "foreigners, and no local staff or Afghan citizens" are able to reach it.
Sullivan confirmed that Washington, which has opened a communication channel between American military personnel securing the airport runway and the Taliban, is negotiating with the fighters of the movement to establish a "timeline" for the evacuations. He said, "We believe we can continue that until August 31," explaining that talks are ongoing to reach a specific timeline.
The United States continued to bolster its military presence at Kabul Airport on Tuesday to expedite evacuation operations. An additional 1,000 American soldiers arrived overnight, and between 700 and 800 individuals have been evacuated since Monday evening, including 165 Americans, according to U.S. Army General Hank Taylor. Taylor explained that the military reinforcements, which are expected to continue in the coming days, will allow for the "acceleration" of evacuation operations to conduct one flight per hour "in the next 24 hours."
General Taylor added that if "we operate at full capacity, we expect to depart five to nine thousand (people) daily." He indicated that the operations have not been hindered by the Taliban, stating, "We have not faced any hostile interaction, assault, or threat from the Taliban." He also revealed that Afghan soldiers who did not surrender to the Taliban have reached Kabul Airport and are participating in evacuation operations. He mentioned, "There are 500 to 600 Afghan forces assisting us in ensuring security."
