Live updates Reports of several dead chaos at Kabul airport amid scramble to flee Taliban

Several people were reportedly killed Monday at Kabul airport, where thousands of panicked Afghans and foreign nationals have gathered in hope of leaving Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. At least five people were killed amid the chaos of people fearful for their lives trying to force their way onto planes, Reuters reported, citing multiple witnesses.

Desperate Afghans crowded around at least one U.S. Air Force plane as it struggled to take off, and there were reports of people falling from aircraft to their death.

It wasn’t clear how the people were killed. U.S. forces previously fired in the air to warn unauthorized people from trying to board military flights, according to numerous reports early Monday.

The State Department said Sunday that U.S. forces have secured control of the airport’s perimeter. The American military presence will swell to nearly 6,000 by early this week, with troops having the sole mission of helping U.S. and allied personnel depart the country.

Here are the significant developments

By Sunday evening, the Taliban had taken control of the presidential palace in Kabul, underscoring its lightning quick seizure of cities in the past week.

As of late Sunday, all U.S. Embassy personnel had been moved to the airport, the State Department said. The British ambassador was also on-site helping to process the visas of Afghans who had worked for Britain.

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace appeared to break down during an interview Monday as he discussed the fate of those attempting to flee the Taliban in Afghanistan.

U.S. officials said they will accelerate the evacuation of thousands of Afghans eligible for Special Immigrant Visas. About 2,000 Afghans have arrived in the United States over the past two weeks, a fraction of the estimated 88,000 that could need to be evacuated.

More than 60 nations released a joint statement calling on all parties in Afghanistan “to respect and facilitate, the safe and orderly departure of foreign nationals and Afghans who wish to leave the country.”

People cling desperately to planes taking off from Kabul airport, videos showLink copied

Hundreds ran alongside the wheels of the U.S. military aircraft as it attempted to take off from the tarmac at Kabul’s international airport. Others climbed up the sides of the plane as it edged forward, engines roaring.

Some clutched onto parts of the plane as it jetted upward into the blue sky, with at least one person appearing to fall from a height back to the ground. A local Afghan agency also showed images of at least one body having landed on rooftops in Kabul.

The footage was viewed tens of thousands of times Monday as it circulated broadly on Twitter, with many expressing horror at the scenes unfolding in Afghanistan.

Other videos taken as thousands flooded the airport in the wake of the country’s fall to the Taliban show people dangling from ladders leading to aircraft while others pushed forward to try to board â€" with or without a ticket.

“At least one body fell from aircraft wing, after a stampede by runway. Very dark moment for country,” Joyce Karam, a correspondent for the National, tweeted Monday.

Others reported that some people had tied themselves to the plane in a last-minute bid for freedom.

“Sad scenes for humanity,” tweeted journalist Wajahat Kazmi, while others said the footage defined the West’s decision to withdraw troops for Afghanistan.

Afghanistan’s military collapse: Illicit deals and mass desertions Link copied

KABUL â€" The spectacular collapse of Afghanistan’s military that allowed Taliban fighters to reach the gates of Kabul on Sunday despite 20 years of training and billions of dollars in American aid began with a series of deals brokered in rural villages between the militant group and some of the Afghan government’s lowest-ranking officials.

The deals, initially offered early last year, were often described by Afghan officials as cease-fires, but Taliban leaders were in fact offering money in exchange for government forces to hand over their weapons, according to an Afghan officer and a U.S. official.

China says it ‘respects’ will of Afghan people, paving the way for recognizing Taliban ruleLink copied

Chinese officials said Monday that Beijing would “respect the will and the choice of the Afghan people” as the Taliban tightened its hold over Kabul, signaling that China plans to recognize the legitimacy of the militants’ rule over Afghanistan.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a news conference that China has maintained communication with the Taliban, adding that “the Afghan Taliban have repeatedly expressed their wish to develop good relations with China … which we welcome.”

“China has long respected Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity,” she said.

Hua added that the situation in Afghanistan has undergone drastic changes and that the Taliban has said it plans to “negotiate the establishment of an open and inclusive Islamic government, and take responsible action to ensure the security of Afghan citizens and foreign missions in Afghanistan.”

“China expects that these statements will be implemented to ensure a peaceful transition in Afghanistan,” she said, as scenes of Afghan residents scrambling to flee flooded social media and news broadcasts. The Chinese Embassy is continuing to operate normally, Hua added, and neither the ambassador nor his staff have been evacuated.

In recent months, as U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan intensified, Chinese officials have made their overtures to the Taliban more explicit while emphasizing that they do not intend to interfere in Afghanistan’s domestic issues. In July, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a high-profile meeting with a nine-member delegation from the Taliban, expressing support for the militants’ role in Afghanistan’s future while warning them against working with separatist groups in Xinjiang.

Britain’s defense secretary breaks down over those left behind in AfghanistanLink copied

LONDON â€" British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace appeared to break down during an interview Monday as he discussed the fate of those attempting to flee the Taliban in Afghanistan.

During an interview with radio station LBC, Wallace outlined plans to evacuate those still on Afghan soil and said the government and armed forces were risking their lives to process the relevant documentation before people could leave the country.

“It’s a really deep part of regret for me,” Wallace said before pausing. “That some people won’t get back.”

“Some people won’t get back,” he repeated, seemingly choking back tears.

When asked by host Nick Ferrari why he was feeling the situation so personally, Wallace explained that he had served in the military and that the situation was “sad.”

Wallace served as a captain in the British army before he was appointed defense secretary in 2019.

“It’s sad that the West has done what it’s done,” he added before vowing to get as many people out as possible.

Veterans around the world also have expressed horror and sadness over the country’s fall.

“Why did my friend get blown up? For what?” one Afghanistan war veteran told The Washington Post last week. Others expressed anger that the United States and its allies had withdrawn troops from Afghanistan.

Russia’s ambassador to Afghanistan will meet with the Taliban on TuesdayLink copied

The Russian ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, will meet with the Taliban in Kabul on Tuesday to discuss the safety of those working at the Russian Embassy in the Afghan capital, Russia’s representative for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said Monday.

“Our ambassador is in contact with the Taliban leadership; tomorrow he will meet with the Taliban security coordinator,” Kabulov confirmed during an interview with the Ekho Moskvy radio station.

An estimated 100 people work at the embassy, Reuters reported Monday, and Kabulov said some workers would be evacuated.

Kabulov said Russian officials were still debating whether to recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan’s new government and would be closely watching “the conduct of the new authorities” before making a decision.

“We will carefully see how responsibly they govern the country in the near future. And based on the results, the Russian leadership will draw the necessary conclusions,” Kabulov said, adding that officials would not rush their decision.

During the interview, Kabulov expressed shock that the country had fallen so quickly to the Taliban.

“It came as a surprise, as we thought that the Afghan army, whatever it is, would still resist for some time,” he said. “It looks like we were too optimistic about the quality of the armed forces trained by the Americans and NATO.”

“They dropped their weapons as soon as the first shot was fired,” he said.

U.K. ambassador hailed for reportedly staying at airport to ‘personally process’ visas of fleeing AfghansLink copied

Amid the turmoil at Kabul International Airport, where thousands were desperately trying to flee Taliban rule, the British ambassador to Afghanistan stayed behind to “personally process” visas of Afghan interpreters who had worked for Britain, Channel 4 News reported Sunday.

Laurie Bristow, who was appointed in May, was swiftly hailed as a hero on social media, with many describing him as brave and honorable for the “incredible commitment” shown in the face of mounting pressure and growing security threats.

“In every crisis, ‘look for the helpers,’ ” read one tweet.

“We are all in the debt of Laurie Bristow. Thank you so much,” read another.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which had reduced its diplomatic presence in Kabul amid Taliban gains, told British media Sunday that the “ambassador remains in Kabul” and that remaining embassy employees would continue to support British nationals and allied personnel.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Sunday that Britain was working to get its nationals and Afghans who had worked closely with London out of the militant-controlled country as fast as possible. Nobody wants Afghanistan “once again to become a breeding ground for terror,” he said.

About 300 British passport holders managed to depart Afghanistan on Sunday, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told the BBC on Monday. He added that the embassy expects to help roughly another 1,500 people leave in the coming days.

Last week, the British Embassy in Kabul urged its nationals in Afghanistan to “leave immediately”as the Taliban advanced, while the Foreign Office advised against all travel to the country.

Wallace also confirmed that British forces are in place at the Kabul airport to help protect the evacuation. “Time is of the essence,” he said. “Every hour counts.”

Key updateHundreds run across airport tarmac to sound of gunfire in rush to flee Taliban-controlled capitalLink copied

Several people were reportedly killed Monday inside Kabul airport, where thousands of panicked Afghans and foreign nationals have gathered in hopes of leaving Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

At least five people were killed amid the chaos of people fearful for their lives trying to force their way onto planes, Reuters reported, citing multiple witnesses. It was not immediately clear how the people were killed.

U.S. forces previously fired in the air to warn unauthorized people against trying to board military flights, according to numerous reports early Monday.

The State Department said Sunday that U.S. forces have secured control of the airport’s perimeter. The American military presence will swell to nearly 6,000 by early this week, with soldiers having the sole mission of helping U.S. and allied personnel depart the country.

Videos on social media showed hundreds of people running across the tarmac to the sound of gunfire. One witness told Reuters he saw the bodies of five people being taken to a vehicle. Another witness said it was not clear whether the victims were killed by gunshots or in a stampede. Officials were not immediately available to comment on the deaths.

Another video showed people desperately pushing their way up a staircase in an attempt to board a plane, while others dangled from the railings, as hundreds of people tried to leave the capital via the only route not controlled by the Taliban after the militant group took Kabul on Sunday.

U.S. officials said they will accelerate the evacuation of thousands of Afghans eligible for Special Immigrant Visas. About 2,000 have arrived in the United States over the past two weeks, a fraction of the estimated 88,000 who could need to be evacuated.

Biden administration scrambled as its orderly withdrawal from Afghanistan unraveledLink copied

By the middle of the week, as cities across Afghanistan were falling like dominoes to the Taliban and U.S. diplomats appeared increasingly at risk, President Biden’s plan for an orderly end to the United States’ longest war was quickly falling apart.

On Wednesday evening, Biden convened his top advisers to assess the ominous turn of events. One by one, in the cramped Situation Room in the White House basement, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken outlined the administration’s options for ensuring the security of U.S. personnel. Biden asked them to return with recommendations.

When the aides reconvened early the next morning, things had gotten worse. The Taliban was taking control of more and more of Afghanistan’s 34 provincial capitals, most of them seized without a major fight, and the militants were bearing down on Kabul, the national capital. After being briefed by Sullivan and Austin, Biden gave the order to activate a plan deploying troops to secure the Kabul airport and create an evacuation route for Americans on the ground.

Fears of violence grow in Taliban-held KabulLink copied

Hundreds of thousands of Afghans have fled their homes as reports of retributory violence by Taliban insurgents against people who had worked for the now-fallen government fuel concerns about life under Islamist militant rule.

In Kabul, claims of abuses and bloodshed, including executions, were emerging just hours after the capital city fell. The last time the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, it led a profoundly violent and repressive nation that became a global pariah.

“I’m sad to report that friends in Kabul are reporting violence tonight. Some claim revenge executions, others criminality,” Tom Tugendhat, a senior British lawmaker who served in Afghanistan, tweeted late Sunday. “A city half the size of London handed over to a violent cult. We are not likely near the end of the horror.”

Some Afghans who had fled for Kabul last week reportedly saw the insurgents kill captured soldiers in Taliban-controlled areas. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul said Aug. 12 that it had come across reports of the Taliban executing surrendering Afghan troops. Those claims could not immediately be independently verified.

Twenty years after being dislodged from national power by the invasion of a U.S.-led coalition, the Taliban has sought to portray itself as a more moderate organization. The militant group has offered amnesty to Afghans who have worked for Western authorities and the now-collapsed government.

“It’s going to be all about the actions, not the words,” said New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday. “The whole world is watching.”

Analysts say the Taliban’s treatment of civilians varies across provinces and districts as autonomous local commanders tailor their approach to ethnic ties and local politics, The Washington Post has reported.

The United Nations Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting Monday to discuss the deepening humanitarian crisis.

U.N. Secretary General António Guterres, who has repeatedly condemned attacks on Afghan civilians and called for a peaceful settlement between the Taliban and government representatives, said Monday that “all abuses must stop.”

“International humanitarian law and human rights, especially the hard-won gains of women and girls, must be preserved,” he wrote on Twitter.

The fall of Saigon: As Taliban seizes Kabul, the Vietnam War’s final days remembered Link copied

President Gerald Ford was in a meeting with his energy team when his deputy national security adviser came in and passed him a note. It warned that Saigon was falling, and faster than expected.

Congress and the Pentagon had been pressuring him for weeks to move faster on evacuating Americans and their South Vietnamese allies, and now time was running out.

That’s what Ford faced on the evening of April 28, 1975, and it is history repeating itself now. After 20 years of U.S. involvement, the Taliban entered the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Sunday morning, as the United States scrambled to evacuate embassy staff and accelerate the rescue and relocation of Afghans who aided the U.S. military.

Emirates suspends flights to Kabul in blow to fleeing Afghan civiliansLink copied

Emirates, a flag carrier airline of the United Arab Emirates, said early Monday that it has suspended flights to Kabul airport until further notice. The move came as chaotic scenes of Afghans attempting Sunday to flee Taliban control via the airport circulated on social media.

Kabul airport â€" the only route out of Afghanistan not controlled by the Taliban, according to the Associated Press â€" was shut to civilian traffic for a time and an Emirates flight that had been scheduled to land at the airport Sunday was forced to return to Dubai. The airline attributed the abandoned landing to an “unforeseen temporary closure of the runway.”

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the airport was later reopened to commercial planes.

Emirates maintains one of the largest flight networks in the region, and the suspension is yet another blow to locals who had been hoping to flee to the UAE, which has a large Afghan diaspora. Etihad, the other major airline in the UAE, does not service Kabul.

The United States has relocated its embassy personnel to the airport, and the State Department said late Sunday that U.S. forces have established control over its perimeter. American personnel are also taking charge of air traffic control at the airport. Some foreign troops, including Turks, remain on-site.

“Tomorrow and over the coming days, we will be transferring out of the country thousands of American citizens who have been resident in Afghanistan, as well as locally employed staff of the U.S. mission in Kabul and their families and other particularly vulnerable Afghan nationals,” the State Department and the Defense Department said in a joint statement.

Afghanistan’s collapse leaves allies questioning U.S. resolve on other fronts Link copied

LONDON â€" The Taliban's stunningly swift advances across Afghanistan have sparked global alarm, reviving doubts about the credibility of U.S. foreign policy promises and drawing harsh criticisms even from some of the United States' closest allies.

As Taliban fighters entered Kabul and the United States scrambled to evacuate its citizens, concerns grew that the unfolding chaos could create a haven for terrorists, unleash a major humanitarian disaster and trigger a new refugee exodus.

U.S. allies complain that they were not fully consulted on a policy decision that potentially puts their own national security interests at risk â€" in contravention of President Biden's promises to recommit to global engagement.

And many around the world are wondering whether they could rely on the United States to fulfill long-standing security commitments stretching from Europe to East Asia.

U.S. takes steps to secure airport, traffic control amid exodusLink copied

U.S. officials said Sunday they were taking steps to secure Kabul’s airport to enable civilian and military flights to depart safely, as photos and videos showed chaotic scenes of thousands of foreign nationals and Afghans trying to board flights.

In a joint statement Sunday, the State Department and the Pentagon said the United States will expand its security presence to nearly 6,000 troops within the next 48 hours. U.S. forces will also take over responsibility for air traffic control.

Over the coming days, the United States plans to evacuate thousands of American citizens from Afghanistan, as well as locals employed by the U.S. mission in Kabul, their families and other particularly vulnerable Afghan nationals, officials said.

The U.S. government will also accelerate the evacuation of thousands of Afghans eligible for Special Immigrant Visas, nearly 2,000 of whom have already arrived in the United States over the past two weeks.

As the Taliban encircled and then entered Kabul on Sunday, U.S. personnel at the embassy in Afghanistan relocated to the airport along with acting ambassador Ross Wilson, who left the sprawling diplomatic compound with the American flag. As of late Sunday, “all embassy personnel” had been moved to the airport, State Department spokesman Ned Price said.

More than 60 nations released a joint statement Sunday calling on all parties in Afghanistan “to respect and facilitate, the safe and orderly departure of foreign nationals and Afghans who wish to leave the country.”

The British ambassador reportedly stayed behind at Kabul airport to help process visas for Afghans who had worked for London.

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