Addis Ababa, August 26, 2021 (walta) – The US, the UK and Australia are warning their citizens in Afghanistan against traveling to Kabul airport, with the British armed forces minister saying Thursday there is “very credible” intelligence that militants are planning an “imminent” attack on those gathering at the airport.
“There is now very, very credible reporting of an imminent attack,” British armed forces minister James Heappey told BBC radio on Thursday, adding that those seeking to leave “should not come to Kabul airport; they should move to a safe place and await further instructions”.
“I can only say that the threat is severe,” he continued. “We will do our best to protect those who are there. There is every chance that as further reporting comes in, we may be able to change the advice and process people anew, but there is no guarantee of that.”
A NATO country diplomat earlier told Reuters that Taliban cadres have promised to provide security outside Kabul airport, but intelligence reports of an imminent threat from Islamic State militants cannot be ignored.
“Western forces, under no circumstances, want to be in a position to launch an offensive or a defensive the attack against anyone in Afghanistan” added the diplomat, who was speaking on condition of anonymity.
The warnings come as Afghans on Thursday hurried to escape Taliban rule. Western officials said the group had made assurances that some evacuations would be permitted after next week’s US withdrawal deadline.
More than 80,000 people have been evacuated since August 14, but huge crowds, hoping to flee the threat of reprisals and repression in Taliban-led Afghanistan, remain outside Kabul airport.
Washington and its allies have been flying out thousands of Afghans every day on hulking military transports, but it has become an increasingly difficult and desperate task.
The Taliban have also been accused of blocking or slowing access for many trying to reach the airport, although they have denied that charge.
(Source : France 24)