US embassy in Kabul tells Americans to avoid airport amid reports of gunfire

The US Embassy in Kabul has urged American citizens to ‘shelter in place’ following reports of gunfire at the airport in Afghanistan‘s capital. This comes after the Taliban entered Kabul on Sunday and held talks with members of the civilian government at the Afghan Presidential Palace following which President Ashraf Ghani reportedly stepped down from his post and fled the country.  

“The security situation in Kabul is changing quickly. There are reports of the airport taking fire; therefore we are instructing US citizens to shelter in place,” the United States Embassy notice said. 

Also Read: How the Taliban seized, lost and regained Afghanistan

This came as the US scrambled to evacuate staff and top officials from its embassy in Afghanistan Sunday. CNN reported on Sunday morning, quoting sources, that US was planning to pull out all the personnel from the embassy in Kabul over the next 72 hours. 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said on Sunday morning that all embassy staff were being transported to the airport for their safety. 

“Right now, the plan that we’re putting into effect is to move personnel from the embassy compound in the capital to a location at the airport to ensure that they can operate safely and securely,” Blinken said on ABC’s ‘This Week.’

When asked if the embassy was being shuttered, Blinken said, “The compound itself, our folks are leaving there and moving to the airport.”

Also Read: How Taliban defeated the US-backed Afghan army

Meanwhile, Taliban militants have been ordered to enter Kabul, following assurances by the group that they will not take Kabul by force.

A statement by Taliban said the fighters have been told to enter Kabul because “now there are reports that districts in Kabul have been evacuated, police have left their job of providing security, ministries have been evacuated, and security personnel from the Kabul administration have fled.”

“So that God forbid the common thieves and robbers in Kabul do not mix, the abusers do not harm the people, the Islamic Emirate ordered its forces to enter the areas of Kabul from which the enemy went and areas there is a risk of theft and robbery,” the statement continued.