Texas Rep Warns Of A Deadly Situation As Taliban Prevents Americans From Leaving The Country

On Sunday, Republican Texas Rep. Michael McCaul claimed that the Taliban was interfering with the takeoff of a plane transporting Americans from Mazar-i-Sharif International Airport in northern Afghanistan.

“We had six airplanes at Mazar-i-Sharif airport. Six airplanes with American citizens on them as I speak, also with these interpreters, and the Taliban is holding them hostage for demands right now,” McCaul told Fox News’ Chris Wallace.

McCaul noted that since US military personnel departed on Aug. 30, “zero” Americans had been able to exit the country.

Eena Ruffini of CBS News reported Sunday morning that the State Department had begun telling members of Congress that Taliban approval was blocking chartered flights from departing Mazar-i-Sharif for Doha, Qatar.

A United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution passed on Aug. 30 urged the Taliban to “facilitate safe passage for people seeking to leave Afghanistan,” but the group failed to do so even after American and NATO military personnel departed the country on Aug. 31.

Victoria Nuland, the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, stated on Sept. 1 that the Taliban must “manage the country in a manner consistent with those standards” if “they wish to be welcomed into the international community.”

However, McCaul told Wallace, the Taliban “are not clearing the airplanes to depart [Mazar-i-Sharif airport]. They’ve sat at the airport for the last couple of days, these planes, and they’re not allowed to leave. We know the reason why is because the Taliban want something in exchange. This is really … turning into a hostage situation, where they are not going to allow American citizens to leave until they get full recognition from the United States of America.”

Ned Price, the State Department’s spokesperson, previously declined to comment on whether the US would recognize a Taliban mission to the United Nations.

Between 1995 and 2001, only Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate government. Although no country has officially recognized the Taliban, China will invest in the group as part of its New Silk Road program, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Thursday.

 

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