Deaths in riots at Kabul airport; Commercial flights canceled

Rioting at Kabul airport killed people on Monday (16), when a crowd tried to board planes to leave the airport. Afghanistan, which is now controlled by Taliban.

The number of deaths has not been confirmed. The Wall Street Journal reported that three people were killed by firearms.

Reuters quoted eyewitnesses as reporting that five people were killed, without mentioning whether the victims were injured by firearms or trampled on them during the clash.

A video clip shows Afghans huddled on the stairs of an airplane trying to board the plane

Video: A crowd at Kabul airport tries to leave Afghanistan

Video: Cars stuck in traffic jams on the streets of Kabul

People are trying to leave the country after the Taliban Take the capital, Kabul and return to power after 20 years. President He fled Afghanistan and the presidential palace was seized Not Sunday (15).

The United States attacked Afghanistan in 2001, in response to the 9/11 attacks, ousting the extremist group from power. (see below).

The then American president, Donald Trump signed a peace agreement with the Taliban in February 2020 Which predicted the complete withdrawal of troops from the country in April of this year.

current president, Joe Biden supported the decision and postponed the full exit until the end of this month. With the withdrawal of troops, the Taliban quickly regained power.

Taliban fighters take control of the Afghan presidential palace in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country on August 15, 2021 – Photo: Zabi Karimi/Associated Press

Commercial flights have been canceled, and only military flights are taken there. “Please don’t come to the airport,” an airport official said.

Videos posted on social media show several people trying to board a plane that was about to leave Afghanistan.

During the disturbances, American forces, who were at the airport to help American citizens board, fired into the air. (You can watch the videos above).

“The crowd is out of control,” an official told Reuters. “The shooting was done to neutralize the chaos.”

Afghans gather on the tarmac of Kabul airport on August 16 in an attempt to flee the country after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan – Photo: AFP

More than 60 countries, including the United States, Germany, Japan and France, issued a statement calling on Afghan nationals and foreigners to leave Afghanistan safely.

“Peaceful Status” and Dialogue with Russia

Taliban officials said on Monday they had received no reports of clashes across the country. Since they captured Kabul.

“The situation is peaceful, according to our information,” said one of the leading members of the extremist group.

The Russian official on Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said today, Monday, that his country’s ambassador in Kabul will meet Tuesday (17) with the Taliban and that Russia will decide whether to recognize the Taliban government or not according to its “measures”.

“Our ambassador is in contact with Taliban leaders and will meet tomorrow with the Taliban coordinator,” Kabulov told Ekho Moskvy radio. “Recognition or not will depend on the actions of the new regime.”

Taliban’s rapid progress

The fall of the Afghan government in the hands of the Taliban comes 20 years after the United States expelled the extremist group from Kabul by the United States, which invaded the country days after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Video: Watch the timeline of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan

In April, US President Joe Biden announced Withdraw all troops from the country by the end of the month.

The Taliban advanced rapidly after most of the US-led forces left the country in July, and the fall of Kabul comes ahead of schedule by US authorities.

According to Reuters, US intelligence services estimated the Taliban’s arrival in Kabul in September, with a possible takeover in November.

Taliban seize power in Afghanistan – Photo: G1