Since the start of the evacuation operations in Afghanistan, the United States has evacuated around 7,000 people from the South Asian country, the Pentagon informed on Thursday. 

“Since the start of evacuation operations on August 14, we have airlifted approximately 7,000 total evacuees. This increase is reflective of both a ramp up of aircraft and airlift capability, faster processing of evacuees, and greater information and fidelity in reporting,” Major General Hank Taylor, Commanding General of the Army Operational Test Command told reporters at a Pentagon news conference, according to PTI inputs.

The Taliban forces took over the entirety of Afghanistan and breached capital Kabul on Sunday, capping a lightning offensive across the country. Their sudden victory, which comes as the US withdraws from the country following a 20-year-war, has sparked chaos at Kabul’s airport, from where America and allied nations are trying to safely evacuate thousands of citizens and allies.

Cumulatively, the number of people moved out of Afghanistan is somewhere near 12,000.

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In the past 24 hours, 12 C-17 military planes, containing more than 2,000 passengers, left Kabul airport and arrived at designated safe havens and staging areas in the CENTCOM area of operation, said Major General Taylor, who has been given the responsibility to airlift US citizens from Afghanistan amid the Taliban crisis.

Furthermore, Taylor added that over 5,200 US troops are presently in Kabul. “The US military footprint and Kabul now has more than 5,200 total troops on the ground. Kabul airport remains secure and open for flight operations. There are now multiple gates that have access for entry into the airfield, which will help expedite processing in a safe and orderly manner.”

Meanwhile, at a separate news conference, State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters that there are 6,000 people at the airport right now who’ve been fully processed by a consular team and will soon board planes.

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“Overnight, we significantly expanded how many American citizens locally employed staff, SIV applicants, and other vulnerable Afghans who are eligible for departure, and we offered to consider transit to the airport,” Price added.

Additionally, with horrific videos emerging around congestion at the airport in Kabul, Price said they were aware of the situation and working closely with the Department of Defense to facilitate safe and orderly access for consular processing on the airport compound.