Afghanistan Crisis HIGHLIGHTS: Taliban Condemn Kabul Airport Blasts, Suspect IS Role Behind Attack
Afghanistan Taliban Crisis LIVE: For all the latest developments in the Afghanistan-Taliban crisis and the situation created around it follow ABP News LIVE blog to stay updated.
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Background
Afghanistan Taliban Crisis LIVE: Even as the Taliban prepares to rule the Pashtun country again, the rest of the world is putting in all efforts to evacuate its people on priority.
After much back and forth, August 31 has been set as the deadline by when the Taliban wants the US to evacuate all its people.
The US’ Afghanistan evacuation operations are going on in full swing, with nearly 6,000 American troops deployed at the international airport in capital Kabul and US flights leaving every 45 minutes.
The Joe Biden administration has said more than 80,700 people had been evacuated as of Wednesday, since the Afghan government fell on August 14.
Several other countries also have their own evacuation operation going on in Kabul. India, for example, has so far evacuated more than 800 people since the Taliban seized power, with multiple air missions flying Indians and others out of Kabul.
The complex mission to evacuate Indian citizens and Afghan partners from Kabul after its swift takeover by the Taliban has been named "Operation Devi Shakti".
Turkey, France, Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Poland, and Switzerland are also carrying out evacuations from the Pashtun land.
The scale of the evacuation effort by the US, which had been involved in a war in Afghanistan for the last 20 years, employing thousands of local residents who are now eligible for special visas, is definitely much bigger.
Over the last two decades of the war, many Afghans had worked with the US military and embassy as interpreters, advisers, and in other capacities. All these people and their families are eligible for special visas, and they are all desperate to leave fearing retribution from the Taliban.
Even as the deadline for the complete pullout is August 31, the US has not said how many such people are still in Afghanistan and need to be flown out.
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Several US Marines Killed In Kabul Airport Blasts: Official
A US official says several Marines were killed and a number of other American military were wounded Thursday in an attack on Kabul's airport. US officials have said that information is still coming in and they are trying to determine the exact numbers of casualties.
2 Suicide Attacks Outside Kabul Airport; Russia Says 13 Dead
Two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul's airport Thursday, transforming a scene of desperation into one of horror in the waning days of an airlift for those fleeing the Taliban takeover. At least 13 people were killed and 15 wounded, Russian officials said.
Several Marines were killed and a number of other American military were wounded, a U.S. official said. It was not clear if those deaths were included in the Russian toll.
Taliban Condemn Kabul Airport Blasts, Suspect IS Role Behind Attack
The Taliban have condemned the attack outside Kabul's airport, saying it occurred in an area controlled by US forces. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says his group strongly condemns Thursday's attack and is paying close attention to security.
The attack was believed to be carried out by Afghanistan's Islamic State group affiliate, which is separate from and more radical than the Taliban.
Afghanistan Taliban Crisis LIVE: Pentagon on Kabul Airport Blast
Afghanistan Taliban Crisis LIVE: Suicide Bomb Exploded Outside Kabul Airport Killed At Least 13, Says Taliban Official
A suspected suicide bomb exploded outside Kabul airport, killing at least 13 people including children, a Taliban official said, after the United States and allies urged Afghans to leave the area because of a threat by Islamic State, news agency Reuters reported.
An American official told Reuters that US service members are among those injured. "Up to 3 US troops may have been injured," the official said citing initial information.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Defence Ministry says there were two explosions outside, no damage to Turkish units occurred.
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