Today: 4 April 2025
24 August 2021
3 mins read

Taliban blame US for ‘chaos’ at Kabul airport

Amir Khan Muttaqi on Sunday accused the West of seeking “to create panic and chaos” in Afghanistan, following the Taliban’s takeover of the capital Kabul….reports Asian Lite News

Reacting to the chaotic situation at the Kabul airport, a senior Taliban official has held the US responsible for the panic.

Amir Khan Muttaqi on Sunday accused the West of seeking “to create panic and chaos” in Afghanistan, following the Taliban’s takeover of the capital Kabul.

Muttaqi claimed that the only place in chaos right now is the Kabul airport, where people, he alleged, are being shot and killed, the BBC reported.

He further claimed that the US was trying to hide its defeat by creating an “evacuation drama”.

Meanwhile, the US, amid growing calls to extend evacuations beyond the end of August, has drafted commercial airlines to help with the evacuation efforts.

As per reports, aircraft from Delta, United Airlines and others will help fly those already evacuated from Afghanistan to final destinations. The planes will not fly into Kabul, but will instead be used to help transfer passengers transiting in third countries.

Amid the ongoing unrest, chaos and tension in Afghanistan, three planes, and an Indian Air Force (IAF) transport aircraft, carrying Indian nationals arrived at Delhi’s IGI Airport and Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad, respectively, on Sunday.

‘All roads deserted in Kabul except one leading to airport’

Zaffer Sherrif, who was working at the NATO base in Kabul airport, said all roads in Kabul looked deserted except the one leading to the airport which was choked with heavy traffic as people were in a hurry to leave the country.

“We got the information about Taliban that had captured Jalalabad city (around 40 km from Kabul) on August 16 morning. After some hours, again we were informed that Taliban had entered into the city and local Talibanis began coming inside the airport.”

“Around thousands of Talibanis sat on the runway to disrupt the flight operation and started cover-shot. Later, we were evacuated to Doha from where we have reached India,” he said.

India on Sunday evacuated 168 passengers including 107 Indian nationals through Indian Air Force’s C-17 aircraft that landed at IAF’s Hindon Air Base.

An Air India flight carrying 87 Indians also landed at Delhi’s IGI Airport on Sunday, along with two other private airlines, from different locations.

One more flight carrying Indian nationals is expected to land, said an official.

Another returnee Jagadeesha, who also was working at NATO base in Kabul, said: “We felt safer inside the base. The embassy helped us in getting airlifted to Doha from where with Indian embassy’s help we have reached here.”

Even as the flights carrying Indian nationals landed in early morning at the IGI airport, the check-out was delayed by many hours due to the Covid-related formalities. All the evacuees had to undergo RT-PCR tests.

Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted on Sunday morning, sharing a photo of the ongoing vaccination of the evacuees at the Delhi airport.

He tweeted: “We have decided to vaccinate Afghanistan returnees with free Polio Vaccine – OPV & fIPV, as a preventive measure against Wild Polio Virus. Congratulations to the Health Team for their efforts to ensure public health. Take a look at the vaccine drive at Delhi International Airport.”

ALSO READ: Biden mulls troops deployment in Afghanistan beyond Aug 31

Previous Story

Biden mulls troops deployment in Afghanistan beyond Aug 31

Next Story

Report of American citizens beaten up by Taliban embarrasses Biden

Latest from -Top News

ATM 2025 set for record turnout

Registrations have surged by an impressive 104% compared to the same period last year, underscoring ATM’s growing influence in the international travel trade landscape. With just three weeks to go until the

UAE team aids Myanmar relief efforts

The search and rescue operation will take place across six locations in Myanmar, with teams working in rotating morning and evening shifts to expedite response efforts and reach as many affected areas

China Says US Tariff Hikes Violate WTO Rules

China is among the hardest-hit, facing a 34 per cent levy—part of what Washington describes as reciprocal measures aimed at rebalancing trade deficits and curbing unfair trade practices China has strongly condemned

India Acts as ‘First Responder’ in Myanmar: Jaishankar

Jaishankar took the opportunity to underscore India’s swift humanitarian response, highlighting Operation Brahma, which was launched to assist those affected by the earthquake. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday expressed India’s
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Almost 1.3 mn Afghans displaced last year

According to assessment, 5, 832,454 Afghans were displaced between 2012

The decline of Pak influence over Taliban

Pakistan faces difficult challenges in shaping policy toward Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.