The Pentagon is aware that “there has been issues out in town and harassment of individuals,” who are trying to reach Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said during an off-camera briefing on Wednesday.
Kirby stressed this is why US military leaders in Kabul are in touch with the Taliban on the ground “to try to make sure that doesn’t happen,” he said..….....…....….….…..
“We’re working very hard to make sure that they can get through safely so they can be properly processed,” Kirby said, referring to Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other Afghans at risk.
Chief International Correspondent, Clarissa Ward reports that people have been thronging the airport in a bid to flee as countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, try to evacuate their own citizens and some Afghan nationals looking for protection. The Taliban is outside the airport, in charge of crowd control.
“They’ve been whipping people … firing shots in the air, firing shots at people,” Ward said. “Inside the airport, it appears less chaotic because it is having some effect … But, on the perimeter, it is, of course, incredibly intimidating for people who desperately want to leave this country. And they’re fearful that the Taliban won’t even let them pass those checkpoints.”
