Taliban says Afghans ‘no longer allowed’ to go to Kabul airport

A Taliban
spokesman said on Tuesday that Afghans should not go to the airport or try to leave the country, according to the BBC. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that the Taliban are no longer allowing Afghan nationals to go to the Kabul airport because of the chaotic situation there. Addressing the United States, the Taliban spokesman said that US had kept on inviting people to the airport to board planes. “We ask the Americans…Don’t encourage Afghans to leave…We need their talent,” he said. 

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Mujahid further said that women in Afghanistan should stay at home for now, “for their safety”.  He suggested that while women will not be permanently banned from going to work, the government is trying to come up with a procedure so that they can return to work. “It is currently for their benefit to prevent any ill-treatment,” Mujahid said adding that women have not been removed from their jobs and will continue to receive salaries. 

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The Taliban spokesman said that he wants all foreign nationals in Afghanistan to be evacuated before the August 31 deadline adding that the group is not in favour of allowing Afghans to leave.  He further said that foreign embassies in Afghanistan have been promised security and may continue working from the country. 

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Zabihullah Mujahid reiterated that the August 31 deadline to evacuate will be extended. He said that there is enough time to get foreign nationals out of Afghanistan before the deadline. Earlier, the Taliban warned of consequences if foreign forces were to remain in Afghanistan beyond that date. 

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Meanwhile, Germany and Spain have both said that there will not be enough time to evacuate everyone who needs protection before the deadline. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to call for an increase in aid to Afghanistan, reports the BBC. The British prime minister has promised “to use every humanitarian and diplomatic lever” to protect human rights in Afghanistan. 

The Taliban’s warning comes ahead of a G-7 summit where US allies are expected to press President Joe Biden to delay withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan beyond the August 31 deadline.