Wikipedia

2021 Kabul airlift

(Redirected from 2021 Western evacuation of Afghanistan)

Large-scale evacuations of foreign citizens and some vulnerable Afghan citizens took place amid the withdrawal of US and NATO forces at the end of the 2001–2021 war in Afghanistan. The Taliban took control of Kabul and declared victory on 15 August 2021, and the NATO-backed Islamic Republic of Afghanistan collapsed. With the Taliban controlling the whole city except Hamid Karzai International Airport, hostilities ceased and the Taliban assisted in the evacuation effort by providing security and screening evacuees.[14][15]

Evacuation from Afghanistan (2021)
Part of the War in Afghanistan
Evacuees load on to a United Arab Emirates Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III during the evacuation on 20 August 2021
Location
Kabul, Afghanistan
ObjectiveEvacuations of international diplomatic, military and civilian staff, including national civilians
Date13 August 2021 (2021-08-13) – 30 August 2021 (2021-08-30)
Executed by Australia
 Austria[1]
 Azerbaijan
 Belgium (Operation Red Kite)
 Canada (Operation AEGIS)
 Czech Republic[2]
 Denmark
 Finland
 France (Operation Apagan)[3]
 Germany
 Hungary (Operation Sámán)
 India (Operation Devi Shakti)
 Indonesia
 Ireland[4]
 Italy (Operation Aquila Omnia)[5]
 Japan (Operation RJNO)
 Lithuania[6]
 Luxembourg
 Mexico[7]
 Netherlands
 New Zealand (Operation Kōkako)
 Norway
 Pakistan[8]
 Philippines[9]
 Poland
 Portugal[10]
 Romania
 Russia
 Slovakia
 Slovenia
 Singapore[11]
 South Korea (Operation Miracle)
 Spain (Operation Antígona)[12]
 Sweden[1]
 Switzerland
 Turkey
 Ukraine
 United Arab Emirates
 United Kingdom (Operation Pitting)
 United States (Operation Allies Refuge and private activities)[13]
 Taliban (security and logistics)[14][15]
OutcomeOver 122,000 people have been airlifted abroad[16] and end of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)[17]
Casualties195+ killed[18][19][20]

Although some countries had previously begun small-scale evacuation efforts in the months leading up to August 2021, such as the American Operation Allies Refuge and the British Operation Pitting, the collapse of the Afghan government occurred sooner than intelligence projections had estimated, and evacuation efforts became more urgent. Several countries launched new evacuation operations, such Canada's Operation AEGIS, India's Operation Devi Shakti, and South Korea's Operation Miracle.[27]

The evacuation operations were one of the largest airlifts in history.[28][29] Between 14 and 25 August, the US alone evacuated about 82,300 people from Hamid Karzai International Airport,[30] including US citizens, Special Immigrant Visa applicants, and other vulnerable Afghans.[29] In total, over 122,000 people were airlifted abroad.[16] The evacuation was completed on August 30, one day before a deadline agreed upon with the Taliban.[31]

US embassy staff arriving in Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar from Afghanistan on 15 August 2021
A C-17 evacuating 823 passengers out of Kabul on 15 August

Background

edit
Main articles: Afghan refugees, 2021 Taliban offensive, and Fall of Kabul (2021)

Following the Afghan peace process, the Trump administration and Taliban signed the Doha Agreement in February 2020. Accordingly, the US agreed to withdraw all US forces from Afghanistan by 1 May 2021.[32][33] The Taliban failed to honor most of its pledges in the agreement.[33] Nonetheless, the Biden administration decided to continue with the planned withdrawal, although it pushed back the completion date first to 11 September 2021 and then to 31 August 2021.[32][34]

As the US withdrawal proceeded, the Taliban and allied militant groups began a widespread offensive on 1 May 2021.[35] In the ensuing months, the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan through a combination of negotiating wholesale surrenders of Afghan National Army units and their military offensive, capturing provincial capitals, and expanding their control from 77 districts on 13 April to 104 districts on 16 June to 223 districts on 3 August.[33] In July 2021, the US Intelligence Community estimated that the government of Afghanistan could collapse between six and 12 months after the departure of American troops.[36] Intelligence agencies later reduced the estimation to one month.[37]

However, the government collapsed within days, much more rapidly than many anticipated.[37] The Afghan National Army, poorly led and impaired by widespread corruption,[38] was left in chaos, having only two units remained operational by mid-August: the 201st Corps and 111th Division, both based in Kabul. Intelligence projections quickly worsened.[39] By 14 August, the Taliban had encircled Kabul. On 15 August, Kabul fell and the Taliban declared victory in the War in Afghanistan.[40]

As the Taliban seized control, the urgency to evacuate populations vulnerable to the Taliban, including those interpreters and assistants who had worked with the Operation Enduring Freedom; the International Security Assistance Force, Operation Freedom's Sentinel and the Resolute Support Mission; Hazara people; and vulnerable women and minorities, given the treatment of women by the Taliban, gained importance.

Timeline

edit

13–14 August

edit

After the Taliban seized all border crossings, Kabul Airport remained the only secure route out of Afghanistan.[41] After the fall of Herat on 13 August, the US deployed an additional 3,000 troops and the UK deployed 600 troops to Kabul Airport to secure the airlifts of their nationals, embassy staff, and Afghan citizens who worked with coalition forces.[41] US officials said at the time that all of their forces were still expected to leave Afghanistan by 31 August.[42] On 13 August, a memorandum was sent to all staff of the US embassy to reduce "items with embassy or agency logos, American flags or items which could be misused in propaganda efforts".[43] Diplomats were reported to be rapidly destroying classified documents and other sensitive materials.[41] Among the documents destroyed were the passports of Afghan civilians who had applied for visas.[44]

15–16 August

edit

As the Taliban surrounded and began entering Kabul, US Army CH-47 Chinook, UH-60 Black Hawk and State Department Air Wing CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters began landing at the US embassy to carry out evacuations. A convoy of armored sport utility vehicles (SUVs) was seen departing the embassy grounds, and an attack helicopter was reportedly seen deploying flares in the area to defend against potential shoot-downs.[41] Along with the embassy personnel, 5,000 US troops and some NATO troops remained in the city.[45][46] The US government later authorized the deployment of 1,000 more troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the airport, bolstering troop presence in Kabul to 6,000 to facilitate the evacuations.[47]

External videos
  A widely-shared video shows Afghans running alongside an airplane taking off at Kabul airport.
 
US Army 10th Mountain Division soldiers guarding the apron at Kabul Airport. Crowds of people can be seen in the background.

Panic spread among the civilian population as the Taliban seized the capital, with many citizens rushing to their homes or to the airport, which remained under NATO control after the Afghan government dissolved.[41][48][49] A chaotic situation developed as thousands of fleeing Afghan civilians rushed to Kabul Airport, with hundreds crowding the apron in an attempt to catch flights out of the city; some had climbed over boundary walls to enter the airport.[50][51] US soldiers hovered helicopters low overhead as crowd control, deployed smoke grenades, and occasionally fired warning shots into the air to disperse people attempting to forcefully board aircraft.[52][53][54] Video footage emerged showing hundreds of people running alongside a moving United States Air Force C-17A transport plane taxiing toward the runway; some people could be seen clinging onto the aircraft, just below the wing. Others were running alongside "waving and shouting".[55] At least two people, in an apparent attempt to stowaway, were reportedly shown to "fall from the undercarriage immediately after takeoff". Another body was later found in the landing gear of the C-17.[56] One of the victims was identified as Zaki Anwari, who had played for Afghanistan's national youth football team.[57] Three bodies, including that of a woman, were also found on the ground outside near the passenger terminal building, but their cause of death was unclear, though some observers speculated they may have died during a stampede.[52][58] Seven people were eventually confirmed to have died during this stage—including two armed men shot after firing at US soldiers, according to the US Department of Defense (DOD). The soldiers were not injured, and the gunmen were not identified.[52][59]

At least 22 Afghan Air Force planes and 24 helicopters carrying 585 Afghan military personnel and their relatives had fled to Uzbekistan. One Afghan Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano crashed after crossing the border, with Uzbek authorities issuing conflicting reports on the cause. Two Afghan military planes carrying over 100 soldiers also landed in the Tajikistan city of Bokhtar.[60]

About 8:30 p.m. local time, reports emerged that the US embassy was taking fire. The embassy issued a declaration instructing US citizens in the area to shelter in place.[61] Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the embassy would be relocated to the airport[62] as the DOD had taken over security and air traffic control there.[63] Various other nations had announced plans to evacuate their embassies, including Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Denmark.[64][65][66] The German government announced that it was sending A400M Atlas aircraft with a contingent of paratroopers for evacuations, adding it would not seek the required parliamentary approval for the operation until after the mission was complete.[67] The Italian government was reported to have transferred its embassy staff as well as the families of 30 Afghan employees to Kabul airport under Carabinieri guard to prepare for evacuation.[68] India was reported to have had C-17 transport planes prepared to evacuate Indian diplomatic staff, but had anticipated that it would take longer for the Taliban to capture Kabul.[69] One group of Indian diplomats were escorted to the airport by the Taliban after negotiating the escort after having had their passage out of the Indian embassy blocked several times by the group.[70] Albania said it had accepted a US request to serve as a transit hub for evacuees.[71]

The Philippine government ordered the mandatory evacuation of Filipino nationals in Afghanistan through the auspices of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippines Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan (which is accredited to Afghanistan). Of the 173 Filipino nationals there, 78 agreed to accept the government's repatriation efforts while some accepted help from their companies.[9] The Philippine government also agreed to accept refugees from Afghanistan.[72]

A flight by Emirates Airlines to Kabul was diverted and later returned to Dubai,[73] and United Arab Emirates airline Flydubai announced that it would suspend flights to Kabul on 16 August.[74] By 16 August, most other airlines had also announced suspension of flights to Kabul. The Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority announced that it had released Kabul airspace to the military and warned that "any transit through Kabul airspace will be uncontrolled".[75]

The US Department of Defense confirmed on 16 August that General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., commander of United States Central Command, had met with Taliban leaders in Qatar to secure an agreement. The Taliban reportedly agreed to allow American evacuation flights at Kabul Airport to proceed without hindrance.[76] International airlifts of evacuees had resumed by 17 August following a temporary halt to clear the runway of civilians[77] as the US military confirmed the airport was open for all military flights and limited commercial flights. Pentagon officials added that evacuation efforts were expected to be expedited and were scheduled to continue until 31 August.[78]

Al Jazeera, relaying tracking of flight data posts on Twitter, said that between 15 and 16 August, at least 170 military flights flew from countries including the United States (128); the United Kingdom (12); France (6); Canada (5); Germany (4); Italy (3); Australia (3); India (2); Austria (1); Belgium (1); Denmark (1); Netherlands (1); Sweden (1); Spain (1); and Turkey (1).[1]

A photograph of over 800 refugees packed into an American C-17 taking off from Kabul was widely shared on social media.[79][80] French newspaper Le Monde stated that the photo had become "a symbol of the escape from the Taliban".[81] Another video went viral on 17 August, where a man attempting to escape the country recorded himself and others clinging onto a C-17 military aircraft.[82] A photograph of a US soldier clutching the furled US embassy flag during the evacuations emerged and was circulated by media outlets.[83]

17–21 August

edit
 
General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. (center), commander of United States Central Command, at Kabul Airport on 17 August 2021

On 17 August, the United States Department of State and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan challenged reports of Afghans and Americans being unable to reach the airport. Sullivan told reporters that the Taliban were prepared to "provide the safe passage of civilians to the airport, and we intend to hold them to that commitment" while affirming that the withdrawal deadline remained 31 August. Sullivan acknowledged reports of the Taliban physically preventing people from evacuating, but said "By and large, what we have found is that people have been able to get to the airport."[84]

On 18 August, it was reported that an Afghan interpreter who had worked for the Australian military had been shot in the leg by the Taliban as he crossed a checkpoint leading to the airport.[85] That same day, it was further reported that the first Australian evacuation flight had departed the airport with only 26 people on board, despite having capacity for over 120.[86] The first German evacuation flight the day prior had also transported a low number of evacuees, taking off with only 7 on board.[87] The Malaysian High Commission in India (which is accredited to Afghanistan) confirmed it had helped a Malaysian citizen return home earlier in the month. It also confirmed that two other Malaysian nationals working for an international relief organisation had opted to remain in Kabul. The High Commission urged remaining Malaysian citizens to register with them for repatriation.[88]

 
Evacuees boarding a C-17 Globemaster III at Hamid Karzai International Airport, 18 August

On 19 August, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace stated that the evacuation flights could not take unaccompanied children after a number of videos posted to social media showed desperate families attempting to convince NATO soldiers to take their children to safety.[89] The Guardian reported that the British government had informed the 125 Afghan guards who had been guarding the British embassy in Kabul that they would not be offered asylum in the UK because they were hired by the private security firm GardaWorld. In contrast, GardaWorld guards of the US embassy had already been evacuated.[90] That evening, the Finnish government announced it was preparing to send troops to the airport to assist in the evacuations, with around 60 Finnish citizens still stuck in Kabul.[91] French newspaper Libération obtained a confidential United Nations report that found the Taliban had priority lists of individuals to arrest and were also targeting the families of people who had worked with the Afghan government and NATO.[92]

 
US 1st Battalion, 8th Marines and Norwegian soldiers processing evacuees at Kabul airport, 20 August

By 20 August, it was reported that French special forces had rescued 400 civilians from Kabul, including French nationals and Afghan citizens that had aided French forces during the war. British special forces were also reportedly active during the evacuation.[93] On 20 August, it was reported that the National Directorate of Security's 01 Unit was working alongside NATO forces in the airlift as its members refused to surrender to the Taliban.[94] They were scheduled to be airlifted once American troops withdraw.[94]

On 21 August, Reuters reported that the World Bank's Kabul-based staff and their immediate families were safely evacuated among 350 people aboard a special Pakistan International Airlines flight to Islamabad.[95] The Indian Express reported that the Taliban had blocked 72 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus from boarding an Indian Air Force evacuation flight.[96] Kim Sengupta of The Independent reported that at least four women were crushed to death in a rush on a narrow road leading to the airport.[97] By the afternoon, the US government was advising American citizens not to travel to the airport because of potential risks.[98][99] On the same day, Indonesia evacuated 26 of its nationals, along with five Filipinos and two Afghan nationals using the Indonesian Air Force Boeing 737-400 with a number of soldiers of the Koopssus TNI.[100][101]

22 August

edit
 
US Marine provides fresh water to a child at Kabul Airport

On 22 August, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation revealed that the Australian government had denied visas to over 100 Afghans who had worked as security guards for the Australian embassy.[102] That evening, Lloyd Austin, United States Secretary of Defense, ordered the activation of the American Civil Reserve Air Fleet to aid in the evacuations, only the third time in history that the fleet had been activated.[103] By the end of the day, at least 28,000 people had been officially evacuated from Kabul and 13 countries had agreed to temporarily host Afghan refugees awaiting clearance for resettlement in the US, but tens of thousands more foreign nationals and at-risk Afghans remained stuck in Kabul.[104] Also on 22 August, the Dutch defence ministry announced that it was deploying more troops to Afghanistan to assist the 62 Dutch special forces personnel at Kabul Airport, where they were operating two C-130 military planes for evacuations. According to Defence Minister Sigrid Kaag, over 700 Dutch citizens in Afghanistan were still waiting to be evacuated, adding that at-risk Afghans that managed to be evacuated could be eligible for asylum. The Dutch embassy's 207 staffers and their families had evacuated to the Netherlands days prior.[105]

According to Der Spiegel, on the night of 22 August, nine German KSK special forces operators code named "Blue Light" rescued a Munich family of three from a rendezvous point at a gate outside of Kabul Airport. The family had previously contacted Germany's Federal Foreign Office after several failed attempts to enter the north gate at the airport, but the office initially rejected the mother's evacuation due to her not being a German citizen, before reversing its decision.[106]

 
US paratroopers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division and evacuees at Kabul Airport, 22 August

Over a few days in August, the Royal Australian Air Force completed five evacuation flights,[107] with the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) completing another before 23 August.[108]

23 August

edit

On 23 August, the British government stated that it would not continue evacuations after American forces withdrew from the airport; however, the government would be asking the Americans not to withdraw at the end of the month in an emergency G7 meeting.[109][110] The Taliban indicated that they would be unwilling to extend the 31 August deadline for American withdrawal.[111] Around 7 a.m. local time, one Afghan guard was killed and three wounded in a firefight between Afghan, American, and German troops and unidentified attackers.[112] Ireland approved the deployment of a small special forces team from the Army Ranger Wing and Irish diplomats to Kabul Airport in order to evacuate Irish citizens.[4] The Canadian government officially confirmed that Canadian special forces had launched operations outside of the airport to help evacuate people.[113][114] US president Biden said that thus far the Taliban had kept their promises and had not taken any action against US forces controlling Kabul Airport.[115] Meanwhile, CIA Director William Burns held a secret meeting in Kabul with Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar, who had returned to Afghanistan from exile in Qatar to discuss the 31 August withdrawal deadline.[116][117]

Also on 23 August, Gulf News reported that since 14 August, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) evacuated 1,400 people from Kabul which included diplomats, foreign media and Afghan journalists and staff of international organizations.[8] European Union (EU) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) also requested Pakistani authorities to help evacuate their employees and their families in Afghanistan. EU officials sought urgent evacuation of at least 420 people while ADB requested evacuation of 290 people.[8][118] By this time PIA was the only commercial airline that was still operating flights to and from Kabul.[119]

24 August

edit
 
Canadian soldier walks through an evacuation checkpoint at Kabul Airport, 24 August. Canada evacuated at least 3,700 people during Operation AEGIS.[120]

The US Department of Defense reported that 21,600 people had been evacuated from Kabul Airport in the preceding 24 hours,[121] reflecting a significant increase in the speed of evacuations ahead of the 31 August withdrawal deadline.[121] The total number of persons evacuated from Afghanistan via the airport in the preceding ten days was 70,700.[121] Several hundred US military personnel in support roles who were deemed nonessential had withdrawn in the preceding days, while 5,800 US Army soldiers and US Marines remained to guard the airport.[121] Among the US forces protecting the airport was the 82nd Airborne Division headquarters element; 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division; 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines; 1st Battalion, 8th Marines; 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division; 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division;[122] HHB, 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment, Massachusetts Army National Guard[123] and 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor Regiment, Minnesota Army National Guard.[124]

By 24 August, six Fijian United Nations workers had been evacuated with the assistance of Australian forces.[125] South Korea airlifted 380 Afghans who had "worked at the Korean Embassy or hospitals and job training centers run by Korean engineering and reconstruction forces."[126]

On 24 August, Yevhen Yenin, the Ukrainian deputy minister for foreign affairs, claimed that an evacuation flight had been hijacked and flown to Iran; however, both the Iranian and Ukrainian governments denied that such an event had occurred.[127] That day, two American congressmen, Seth Moulton and Peter Meijer, attracted criticism after flying into Kabul on a military charter plane and staying in the airport for a few hours on an alleged fact-finding mission before flying back out on another charter plane.[128]

 
French soldier speaks with evacuees at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, 25 August 2021. The French Armed Forces launched Opération Apagan on 15 August to airlift Afghan evacuees, concluding on 27 August.[129]

25 August

edit

On 25 August, a Japan Air Self-Defence Force C-2 transport plane arrived at Kabul International Airport and brought in Self-Defense Force personnel and supplies, but returned to their base of operations in Islamabad on the same day because the Japanese nationals to be transported had not arrived at the airport.[130]

26 August

edit

On 26 August, it was reported that US officials in Kabul gave the Taliban a list of names of American citizens, green card holders, and Afghan allies to grant entry into the airport for evacuation. President Biden stated that the "bulk of the group" had been allowed into the airport by the Taliban, but he could not say with "certitude" whether there was a list of names passed to the Taliban.[131][132] Meanwhile, Canada announced that it was ending its Afghanistan evacuation mission,[133] leaving unknown numbers of Canadian and Afghan allies stranded.[134] Australia,[135] Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany,[136] Hungary, the Netherlands, New Zealand,[137] and Poland also announced the end of their evacuations on this day.[138][139][136]

Also on 26 August, the first evacuation convoy of 225 Turkish soldiers and 120 Azerbaijani soldiers returned to Turkey. And it was announced that 1,129 civilians were evacuated in total.[140] A further 12,500 people were evacuated from Afghanistan in general.[20]

Abbey Gate suicide attack

edit
Main article: 2021 Kabul airport attack

On 26 August, an explosion occurred outside the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province (ISIL-K) claimed responsibility for the attack.[141][142] ISIL-K is a sworn enemy of both the United States and the Taliban.[143] The attack was perpetrated by a suicide bomber,[20][144] who detonated a 25-pound explosive vest hidden under clothing, close to a group of US military personnel who were performing security screenings of Afghans hoping to enter the airport.[145]

According to local health officials, at least 170 people were killed,[145] and another 150 others were wounded in the attack.[142] The bombing was carried out at the airport gate.[142] The majority of those killed were Afghan civilians, but 13 US military personnel (11 Marines, one Army soldier, and one Navy corpsman) and 2 British nationals were also among the dead.[146][147] A Taliban official said that 28 Taliban members were killed in the attack, but a Taliban spokesman later denied that any of their fighters had been killed.[20] The wounded included many Afghans and 18 American troops.[146] The wounded Americans were medically evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center near Ramstein Air Base, Germany.[145]

The bombing disrupted evacuation efforts,[147] although flights resumed soon afterward.[148] General Frank McKenzie, the head of US Central Command, indicated that US officials were on alert for possible future ISIL-K attacks against the airport, possibly through rockets or car bombs; McKenzie said intelligence was being shared with the Taliban and "some attacks have been thwarted by" the Taliban.[20]

After the airport attack, the US carried out a drone strike on an ISIL-K planner in Jalalabad, eastern Nangarhar province. The US Department of Defense reported that the airstrike killed the target and caused no civilian casualties.[149]

27 August

edit
 
Afghan evacuees bow during noon congregational prayer at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on 27 August 2021

On 27 August, Australia, France,[150] Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Spain,[151] Sweden,[152] and Switzerland[153] announced the end of their evacuation flights.[154] In total, France evacuated 3,000 people, including 2,600 Afghans during their "Operation Apagan".[155] The last Italian Air Force flight completed the evacuation of 5,011 people, 4,890 of whom were Afghan citizens.[156]

On 27 August 120 Azerbaijani soldiers landed in Baku from Turkey.[157] The second convoy of Turkish soldiers landed in Ankara, and Turkey announced that all Turkish military evacuations had been completed.[158]

In the evening, JASDF C-130 transport planes carrying one Japanese national, 14 Afghan nationals at the behest of the United States and all Self-Defense Forces personnel took off from Kabul International Airport, arriving at Islamabad on the same night. All Japanese nationals who wished to evacuate had been evacuated, but many local embassy employees who wished to evacuate were left behind. The Japanese evacuation was completed.[159]

28 August

edit

On 28 August, the United Kingdom concluded its evacuation of British civilians.[160] At the peak of UK evacuation efforts, more than 1,000 British troops were in Kabul; by 28 August, some had already left.[160] The British government later confirmed that all British soldiers, diplomats and other officials had left Afghanistan by the following day.[161]

The same day, it was reported that the Taliban and Turkey had reached a draft agreement allowing Turkey to operate Kabul Airport after the departure of US forces, for a transitional period.[162][163] Turkish officials had stated that the country would not help operate the airport unless it can deploy its own security forces to guard it.[164]

29 August

edit
Further information: Joint Statement on Afghanistan Evacuation Travel Assurances

On 29 August, the Associated Press reported that the Taliban had sealed off the airport as the US and its allies began concluding the airlift.[165] The Taliban, meanwhile, insisted on taking over the security of Hamid Karzai International Airport themselves instead of Turkey, with spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid stating that their own special forces would guarantee its safety.[166] However, 98 countries, including the United States, released a joint statement saying that they had received assurances from the Taliban that foreign nationals and Afghans would be allowed to leave the country.[167]

The United States military conducted a drone strike against a vehicle it stated was believed to be carrying at least one ISIL-KP suicide bomber in Kabul, who was trying to reach Kabul airport to attack it.[168] The attack set off the explosives inside the vehicle, killing three children in a nearby building, according to Afghan officials.[169] It was subsequently reported that the target was not a militant, but civilians. A relative of the deceased told CNN that nine people belonging to the same family, including six children, were killed due to the airstrike.[170] Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid criticised the United States for conducting the strike instead of informing the group about the attackers beforehand, and said that seven civilians had been killed due to the strike.[171]

Relatives later stated that 10 people who lived in the building next to the target vehicle were killed, including seven children. Some of those killed had previously worked for international organisations and held visas allowing them US entry. US officials said that there had been a number of "substantial and powerful subsequent explosions" following the drone strike indicating that the vehicle had been carrying explosives and they were investigating reports of civilian casualties. Relatives however denied any subsequent explosions had occurred and claimed the driver of the car was not affiliated with the group.[168][172][173]

30 August

edit
 
An American Delta Force operator standing guard at Kabul Airport, 30 August 2021
 
Gen. Chris Donahue boards a C-17 cargo plane at the Kabul airport on the night of 30 August, 2021, becoming the final American service member to withdraw from Afghanistan.

A United States official told Reuters that anti-missile defences had intercepted five rockets aimed at the Hamid Karzai International Airport. Pajhwok Afghan News reported that several rockets had struck Kabul.[174] ISIL-K claimed responsibility for the attack.[175]

That morning, the UN Security Council adopted a motion calling on the Taliban to let people freely leave Afghanistan. However, the motion did not include a proposal French President Emmanuel Macron had earlier floated about creating a UN safe zone in Kabul.[176]

Later that evening, General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. announced that the United States had completed their evacuation from Afghanistan.[16] Before departing, the American forces used thermite bombs to disable several remaining counter rocket, artillery, and mortar systems they had used to protect the airfield from incoming rockets fired by ISIS-K. In addition, the aircraft and vehicles at the airport were also disabled.[177] The last two Americans to board an evacuation flight were acting Ambassador Ross Wilson, the top US diplomat in Afghanistan, and the final soldier to leave Afghanistan, Major General Chris Donahue, commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division.[178] The final flight, a US Air Force C-17, departed at 11:59 p.m. (Kabul time) on 30 August.[179] The US phase of the Afghanistan conflict (1978–present), the 2001–2021 chapter that had begun with the 2001 invasion, had concluded.[17]

Aftermath

edit
 
Afghan refugees resettled per 100K residents after the 2021 Afghan withdrawal and evacuation in each U.S. state and the District of Columbia according to CBS News

In the early hours of 31 August (Kabul time), not long after the final American flight had left, the Taliban marched into the airport, firing their guns into the air in celebration and posing for pictures with abandoned NATO equipment.[180] Taliban leaders, flanked by the Badri 313 Battalion, then entered the airport to hold a press conference declaring that "Afghanistan is finally free" and that they would shortly be announcing a new government.[181]

Post–withdrawal evacuations

edit

Efforts to evacuate foreign nationals and at-risk Afghans continued after military forces concluded their withdrawals.

On 6 September 2021, the United States evacuated four American citizens (specifically, an Amarillo, Texas woman and her three children) from Afghanistan via an overland route, marking the first overland evacuation facilitated by the US Department of State since the military withdrawal. The Taliban was aware of the evacuation and did not make any effort to stop it.[182][183]

On 9 September 2021, the first flight of foreigners out of Kabul since the US military withdrawal took place. A Qatar Airways charter flight left the Kabul airport en route to Doha, Qatar, carrying some 200 passengers, including Americans.[184] A second such flight was scheduled for the following day.[184]

On 11 October 2021, Aman Khalili, an Afghan interpreter who in 2008 had rescued then-Senators Joe Biden, Chuck Hagel, and John Kerry, was rescued along with his family. At the time Khalili's family was rescued by the Human First Coalition and the U.S. State Department, they were in Pakistan, having already left Afghanistan.[185]

The UK Government's Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme to help Afghans fleeing the Taliban settle in the UK, which was announced in August 2021, opened in January 2022.[186]

By 26 October 2021, the U.S. government reported 363 known American citizens remained in Afghanistan with only 176 wanting to leave. 240 had been evacuated through US government involvement, and 74 on private flights, with similar numbers for U.S. permanent residents.[187]

Evacuation destinations

edit
 
Refugee camp at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

The largest base handling the initial outflow of Afghan evacuees was Al Udeid Air Base outside Doha, Qatar, where evacuees were vetted against the National Counterterrorism Center's terrorist watch list.[121]

The Ramstein Air Base, in Germany, the largest United States Air Force base in Europe, was also a hub for processing Afghan evacuees who had assisted the US and its allies during the Afghan war.[188][189] About a fifth of all evacuees from Kabul passed through Ramstein.[190] The base has capacity for up to 12,000 evacuees.[188] Evacuees went through medical screenings and were biometrically scanned.[190][188] At least 30,000 hot meals were served daily; evacuees were housed in aircraft hangars and military tents.[188] By 22 August, about 7,000 people had landed at Ramstein, and about 6,500 remained at the base.[188] Around 700 departed on four flights to the US on 23–24 August,[188] and by 25 August that number increased to around 800.[189] As of 31 August, a total of 11,700 people had been flown from Ramstein to the United States or another safe location.[190]

The USA established temporary housing at military bases in Virginia, Texas, Wisconsin and New Jersey for Afghan refugees.[121] Temporary refugee accommodation was set up at Fort Lee (Virginia), Fort Bliss (Texas), Fort Dix (New Jersey), and Fort McCoy (Wisconsin), with a total capacity for 25,000 people.[191] Fort Lee was the first to receive Operation Allied Refuge evacuees, with 221 arriving at the fort on 30 July.[191] Fort Pickett (Virginia) was also a site for temporary Afghan refugee accommodation.[192]

On 13 August 2021, the Canadian Government announced it would resettle an additional 20,000 vulnerable Afghans such as women leaders, human rights workers and journalists. This was in addition to an earlier initiative to resettle thousands of Afghans who had worked for the Canadian Government, such as interpreters and embassy employees, as well as their families.[193] By March 2022, Canada resettled 8,580 Afghan refugees.[194]

On 17 August 2021, the United Kingdom Government announced a new resettlement programme that aims to resettle 20,000 Afghan refugees over a five-year period in the UK.[195][196]

 
Afghan evacuees arrive at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily, 22 August

On 23 August, the first flight of Afghan evacuees had arrived in New Zealand on a RNZAF Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft.[108] By 26 August, the New Zealand Defence Force had evacuated 370 people from Afghanistan, which included an unspecified number of New Zealand, Australian, and Afghan passport holders. By 28 August, the evacuees were transferred to the United Arab Emirates while awaiting travel to New Zealand.[197][137]

On 11 October, the United Kingdom offered resettlement visas to the Afghan Women's Development Team of football players. The 35 players had fled to Pakistan following the Taliban takeover.[198]

Pakistan's role in evacuations

edit

As of 27 August, Pakistan has helped to evacuate more than 7,000 foreigners from Afghanistan through air and land routes since the fall of Kabul.[199] By 27 August, more than 113 military and commercial flights have landed in Pakistan.[200] Dawn reported that around 400 special flights carrying Afghan nationals and foreigners from Kabul have departed from and arrived in Islamabad.[201] On 27 August 2021, Pakistan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed announced that the Pakistan government has decided to offer 21 days transit visas to the evacuees.[202]

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen[203] and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte[204][205] thanked Pakistan for its support and facilitation in evacuation of stranded people from Afghanistan. Germany's Ambassador to Pakistan Bernhard Schlagheck thanked Pakistani authorities for the cooperation at Islamabad International Airport.[206]

International Monetary Fund's Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva[207] and Asian Development Bank's President Masatsugu Asakawa[208] praised Pakistan's efforts in evacuating the respective financial institution's personnel and their families from Afghanistan. European Council President Charles Michel in a telephonic conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan also thanked him for evacuating European nationals working for different international organisations in Afghanistan.[209] David Beasley, executive director of the UN's World Food Programme (WFP), lauded Pakistan's support for repairing WFP's damaged planes returning from Kabul and establishing a "humanitarian airbridge".[209]

Reactions

edit
See also: Reactions to the Fall of Kabul (2021)

Former UK Chief of the General Staff Richard Dannatt stated that the British government had been aware of the need to evacuate vulnerable Afghans for several years and that "it would appear that the government was asleep on watch."[210] The UK Foreign Office group charged with organising the evacuations was revealed to have left over 5000 email messages unread throughout the last week of the evacuations, including many that contained important information of cases of vulnerable Afghans.[211]

The evacuation of Pen Farthing and his Nowzad Dogs charity came under particular scrutiny in the UK.[212] Visas for 68 people, including the staff of the charity and their immediate family members, had originally been granted on 23 August, but Farthing chose not to leave immediately. Permission for the charity's animals (173 dogs and cats) to be airlifted was granted two days later, but they were blocked from entering the airport on 26 August, and then on 27 August, the Afghan staff of the charity were blocked from boarding the evacuation flight.[213] Farthing left Afghanistan along with the animals, but not his staff, on 28 August.[214] Some journalists criticized this prioritizing animals over people as racist, and damaging to Westerners' reputation among local people.[215][216][217]

On 28 August, a group of Afghans who had worked as security guards at the Finnish embassy in Kabul organised a protest over being left behind in Afghanistan.[218]

Airbnb announced it would provide free temporary housing for 20,000 Afghan refugees in their destination communities.[219]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c Chughtai, Alia. "Infographic: Tracking the flights out of Kabul". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  2. ^ Saric, Ivana (26 August 2021). "U.S. allies scramble to leave Afghanistan". Axios. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Opération d'évacuation en Afghanistan". defense.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Irish Army Rangers go to Kabul to help evacuation". BBC News. 23 August 2021. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  5. ^ Esercito Italiano nell'Operazione "Aquila Omnia", Esercito Italiano
  6. ^ "More Afghan translators land in Lithuania, operation to wrap up Thursday". lrt.lt. 25 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Planeload of fleeing Afghans arrive in Mexico, including journalists". Reuters. 25 August 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  8. ^ a b c Jamal, Sana (23 August 2021). "EU seeks Pakistan's help to evacuate foreigners from Kabul". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 23 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  9. ^ a b Del Callar, Michaela (16 August 2021). "Philippines orders mandatory evacuation of Filipinos in Afghanistan". GMA News. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Portugal envia quatro militares para o Afeganistão". RTP. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Singapore to help US evacuate refugees from Afghanistan using RSAF tanker-transport plane". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  12. ^ "¿Qué es la operación Antígona?". Newtral (in Spanish). 25 August 2021. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021.
  13. ^ "U.S. officials say 7 people died during Kabul airport evacuation chaos". Associated Press. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  14. ^ a b Trofimov, Yaroslav; Salama, Vivian (27 August 2021). "In Its Last Days in Kabul, U.S. Turns to Taliban as a Partner". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  15. ^ a b Seligman, Lara; Ward, Alexander; Desiderio, Andrew (26 August 2021). "U.S. officials provided Taliban with names of Americans, Afghan allies to evacuate". Politico. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  16. ^ a b c Gaouette, Nicole; Hansler, Jennifer; Starr, Barbara; Liebermann, Oren (30 August 2021). "The last US military planes have left Afghanistan, marking the end of the United States' longest war". CNN. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  17. ^ a b Gibbons-Neff, Thomas; Katzenberg, Lauren (30 August 2021). "The U.S. military finishes its evacuation, and an era ends in Afghanistan". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  18. ^ "At least 20 deaths in last week during Kabul airport evacuation effort -NATO official". Reuters. 22 August 2021.
  19. ^ "Germany says firefight involving Western forces erupts at Kabul Airport". Reuters. 23 August 2021.
  20. ^ a b c d e U.S. on alert for more attacks, death toll rises from Kabul airport carnage, Reuters (27 August 2021).
  21. ^ "US warns of 'credible' threats of more Kabul attacks: Live". Al Jazeera. 27 August 2021.
  22. ^ "Taliban beat back crowd at Kabul airport after seven killed in crush". Reuters. 22 August 2021.
  23. ^ Baker, Sinéad (19 August 2021). "12 people have been killed at Kabul airport since Sunday as the Taliban say they 'don't want to hurt anyone'". Business Insider.
  24. ^ "U.S. officials say 7 people died during Kabul airport evacuation chaos". Associated Press. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  25. ^ "US troops to stay until Americans and eligible Afghans evacuated, says Biden". The Guardian. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  26. ^ "Firefight involving Western forces at Kabul airport, Afghan guard killed". Reuters. 23 August 2021.
  27. ^ Defence, National (24 August 2021). "Operation AEGIS". Government of Canada.
  28. ^ Fox, Ben; Stengle, Jamie (25 August 2021). "EXPLAINER: What's happening with Afghanistan evacuations?". Associated Press. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  29. ^ a b Kaufman, Ellie; Liebermann, Oren; Stracqualursi, Veronica; Benveniste, Alexis (22 August 2021). "Pentagon activates US airlines to assist with evacuation efforts from Afghanistan". CNN. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  30. ^ Jakes, Lara; Schmitt, Eric (25 August 2021). "The latest enemy to U.S. evacuation efforts in Afghanistan: Time". The New York Times.
  31. ^ Myre, Greg (24 August 2021). "CIA Chief And Taliban Leader Meet As Taliban Demand Aug. 31 U.S. Withdrawal". NPR. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  32. ^ a b Phillips, Amber (20 August 2021). "Trump's deal with the Taliban, explained". The Washington Post.
  33. ^ a b c Zucchino, David (18 August 2021). "Collapse and Conquest: The Taliban Strategy That Seized Afghanistan". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  34. ^ Shear, Michael D.; Karni, Annie; Schmitt, Eric (24 August 2021). "Biden says the U.S. is poised to meet the Afghan withdrawal deadline, at least for now". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  35. ^ Stanekzai, Zainullah; Greenfield, Charlotte (4 May 2021). Graff, Peter (ed.). "Taliban launches major Afghan offensive after deadline for U.S. pullout". Reuters. Archived from the original on 23 March 2022.
  36. ^ Schull, Mychael (23 July 2021). "Intel analysis: Afghan government could collapse six months after US troops withdraw". The Hill.
  37. ^ a b Barnes, Julian E. (18 August 2021). "Intelligence Agencies Did Not Predict Imminence of Afghan Collapse, Officials Say". The New York Times.
  38. ^ Wintour, Patrick (15 August 2021). "A tale of two armies: why Afghan forces proved no match for the Taliban". The Guardian.
  39. ^ Katchroo, Rohit (13 August 2021). "Taliban expected to reach Afghan capital Kabul 'in seven days', ITV News learns". ITV News. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  40. ^ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (16 August 2021). "Taliban declares 'war is over in Afghanistan' as foreign powers exit Kabul". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  41. ^ a b c d e "Taliban Fighters Enter Kabul As Helicopters Land at U.S. Embassy". NPR. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  42. ^ Macias, Amanda; Kimball, Spencer (12 August 2021). "U.S. deploying 3,000 troops to help evacuate Kabul embassy staff as Taliban advance". CNBC. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  43. ^ "US embassy asked to reduce sensitive material as Taliban advance". MSN. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  44. ^ Collman, Ashley (18 August 2021). "US officials destroyed Afghans' passports while shutting Kabul embassy". Business Insider. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  45. ^ Mengli, Ahmed; Yusufzai, Mushtaq; Mogul, Rhea; Mitchell, Andrea (15 August 2021). "Afghan president flees country as U.S. rushes to exit with Taliban on brink of power". NBC News. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  46. ^ "NATO says it is helping keep Kabul airport open for evacuations". Reuters. 15 August 2021. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  47. ^ Schnell, Myhael (15 August 2021). "Pentagon authorizes sending additional 1,000 troops to Afghanistan". The Hill. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  48. ^ Mistlin, Alex; Sullivan, Helen; Harding, Luke; Harding, Luke; Borger, Julian; Mason, Rowena (15 August 2021). "Afghanistan: Kabul to shift power to 'transitional administration' after Taliban enter city – live updates". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  49. ^ Tanzeem, Ayesha; Gul, Ayaz (15 August 2021). "Reports: Taliban Enter Kabul". Voice of America. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  50. ^ "Kabul the day after the Taliban takeover". Al Jazeera. 16 August 2021. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  51. ^ Rahman, Ramin (18 August 2021). "'We kept on hearing gunshots': my chaotic escape from Kabul's airport". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  52. ^ a b c Lubold, Gordon; Shah, Saeed; Trofimov, Yaroslav (16 August 2021). "Violence Erupts at Kabul Airport as Afghans Try to Flee Taliban". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  53. ^ Jain, Rupam; Gopalakrishnan, Raju (16 August 2021). Elgood, Giles (ed.). "At least five killed at Kabul airport – witnesses". Reuters. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  54. ^ "Afghanistan: US takes control of Kabul airport to evacuate staff from country". BBC News. 16 August 2021. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  55. ^ Harding, Luke; Doherty, Ben (16 August 2021). "Kabul airport: footage appears to show Afghans falling from plane after takeoff". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  56. ^ Pawlyk, Oriana; Seligman, Lara (16 August 2021). "Body of dead Afghan found in landing gear of military jet leaving Kabul airport". Politico. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  57. ^ Canova, Daniel (19 August 2021). "Afghan youth soccer player died in fall from US aircraft at Kabul airport". Fox News. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  58. ^ Doherty, Ben; Harding, Luke (16 August 2021). "Kabul airport: footage appears to show Afghans falling from plane after takeoff". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  59. ^ Lemire, Jonathan (16 August 2021). "Biden to address nation on deadly chaos in Afghanistan". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  60. ^ "Uzbekistan says hundreds of Afghan soldiers flee over border with dozens of aircraft". Reuters. 16 August 2021. Archived from the original on 18 August 2021.
  61. ^ Kroeger, Alix (ed.). "Afghanistan crisis: President Ghani flees country". BBC News. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  62. ^ Mistlin, Alex; Murray, Jessica; Sullivan, Helen; Walters, Joanna (15 August 2021). "Afghanistan president, Ashraf Ghani, reported to have left country as Taliban orders fighters to enter Kabul – live". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  63. ^ Deese, Kaelan (16 August 2021). "US forces take over air traffic control at Kabul airport for evacuations". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  64. ^ "Germany closes Kabul embassy and rushes evacuation of citizens, local helpers". Reuters. 15 August 2021. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  65. ^ Mellen, Ruby (14 August 2021). "Here are the countries evacuating their embassies in Kabul as the Taliban advances". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  66. ^ Kennedy, Niamh (13 August 2021). "Denmark will evacuate embassy staff in Kabul as Taliban advance continues". CNN. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  67. ^ "Germany sending A400M planes for Kabul evacuation – Bild am Sonntag". Reuters. 15 August 2021. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  68. ^ "The Latest: US aims to secure Kabul airport for departures". United States: ABC News. Associated Press. 15 August 2021. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  69. ^ Laskar, Rezaul Hasan (15 August 2021). "India preps to evacuate envoys, citizens still in Afghanistan as Taliban enters Kabul". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  70. ^ "India's midnight evacuation from Afghanistan, escorted by Taliban". Al Jazeera. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  71. ^ "Albania ready to temporarily house Afghan refugees, p.m. Rama says". Reuters. 15 August 2021. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  72. ^ Ranada, Pia (17 August 2021). "Philippines willing to accept refugees from Afghanistan". Rappler. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  73. ^ Cornwell, Alexander (15 August 2021). Lawson, Hugh (ed.). "Emirates flight to Kabul diverts to Dubai, flydubai suspends services". Reuters. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  74. ^ Cornwell, Alexander (15 August 2021). Lawson, Hugh (ed.). "UAE's flydubai to suspend Kabul flights from Monday, spokesperson says". National Post. Reuters. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  75. ^ Freed, Jamie; Lough, Richard; Shepardson, David; Pitas, Costa; Yang, Heekyong; Blanchard, Ben; Cornwell, Alexander; Meijer, Bart (16 August 2021). Mason, Josephine; Doyle, Gerry; Cawthorne, Andrew (eds.). "Airlines warned to stay away from Afghanistan". news.trust.org. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  76. ^ Bowden, John (16 August 2021). "US reaches deal with Taliban over evacuations from Kabul airport, report says". The Independent. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  77. ^ "Evacuation flights restart from Kabul as Taliban hold first press conference". Reuters. 17 August 2021. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  78. ^ Forgey, Quint (17 August 2021). "U.S. military to pick up pace of evacuation flights out of Afghanistan". Politico. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  79. ^ Nicholson, Kate (17 August 2021). "Extraordinary Photo Shows 640 Afghans Fleeing Kabul on Packed U.S. Plane". HuffPost. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  80. ^ Wu, David (17 August 2021). "US Airforce cargo plane Reach 871 flies more than 640 Afghan refugees to Qatar to escape Taliban". Sky News. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  81. ^ "A Kaboul, l'image de 600 Afghans dans un avion américain devient un symbole de la fuite face aux talibans". Le Monde (in French). Agence France-Presse. 17 August 2021. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  82. ^ Steinbuch, Yaron (17 August 2021). "Man films himself clinging to US plane as it leaves Afghanistan". New York Post. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  83. ^ Norman, Greg; Griffin, Jennifer (15 August 2021). "US Embassy flag flown out of Afghanistan amid chaotic evacuation from Kabul airport". Fox News. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  84. ^ Forgey, Quint (17 August 2021). "U.S. military to pick up pace of evacuation flights out of Afghanistan". Politico. Contributions by Lara Seligman, Alex Ward and Myah Ward. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  85. ^ Banville, Kate (18 August 2021). "Interpreter for Australian military shot amid chaotic scenes at Kabul airport". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  86. ^ Hurst, Daniel (18 August 2021). "Australia rescues just 26 people from Afghanistan on evacuation flight with space for 128". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  87. ^ "Afghanistan: Germany justifies evacuating just 7 on first Kabul flight". Deutsche Welle. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  88. ^ "Two M'sians currently in Afghanistan, says Malaysia's High Commission in India". The Star. 18 August 2021. Archived from the original on 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  89. ^ Young, Sarah; Faulconbridge, Guy (19 August 2021). "Britain says: We cannot evacuate unaccompanied children from Afghanistan". Reuters. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  90. ^ Gentleman, Amelia (19 August 2021). "Guards at Kabul embassy told they are ineligible for UK protection". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  91. ^ "Finland sending troops to Kabul to safeguard evacuation". Yle Uutiset. 19 August 2021.
  92. ^ "Les talibans en recherche active de leurs opposants, avertit un rapport de l'ONU". Libération (in French). Agence France-Presse. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  93. ^ Lendrum, Eric (20 August 2021). "France Deploying Special Forces to Evacuate French Civilians From Afghanistan". American Greatness. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  94. ^ a b Rogers, Katie (20 August 2021). "Amid Desperation at Kabul Airport, Evacuation Picks Up Pace". The New York Times.
  95. ^ "World Bank's Kabul-based staff evacuated to Pakistan-internal memo". Reuters. 21 August 2021. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021.
  96. ^ Goyal, Divya (21 August 2021). "Taliban stop 72 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus from boarding IAF plane". The Indian Express. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  97. ^ Hickey, Seán (21 August 2021). "Women at Kabul airport crushed in 'horrendous' scenes, journalist tells LBC". LBC. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  98. ^ Kube, Courtney; Yusufzai, Mushtaq; Mogul, Rhea (21 August 2021). "U.S. tracking ISIS threats against Kabul's airport, Americans trying to leave". NBC News. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  99. ^ "Afghanistan: US fears risk of Islamic State attack at Kabul airport". BBC News. 22 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  100. ^ Suroyo, Gayatri (21 August 2021). Mallard, William (ed.). "Indonesia moves Afghan diplomatic mission to Pakistan, evacuates dozens". Reuters. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  101. ^ Masyarakat, Hubungan (21 August 2021). "Pemerintah Berhasil Evakuasi 26 WNI dari Afghanistan". Sekretariat Kabinet Republik Indonesia. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  102. ^ Callinan, Rory (22 August 2021). "Australia denies at Risk Afghan Employees visas to Afghans who helped guard embassy in Kabul". Australia: ABC News. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  103. ^ Pengelly, Martin (22 August 2021). "Pentagon orders commercial airlines to help in Afghanistan evacuations". The Guardian.
  104. ^ Melimopoulos, Elizabeth; Chughtai, Alia. "Infographic: How many people evacuated from Afghanistan so far?". Al Jazeera.
  105. ^ "Dutch send more soldiers to Afghanistan to help with evacuations". The Star. 22 August 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  106. ^ Lüdke, Steffen; Gebauer, Matthias (23 August 2021). "Münchner Familie aus Kabul gerettet". Der Spiegel. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  107. ^ "The Latest: Australia, New Zealand evacuate hundreds". United States: ABC News. 24 August 2021. Archived from the original on 23 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  108. ^ a b "First Afghanistan evacuees to land in New Zealand". Radio New Zealand. 23 August 2021. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  109. ^ "Amid Kabul chaos, UK calls on US to extend August 31 deadline". Al Jazeera.
  110. ^ Weaver, Matthew; Sparrow, Andrew; Allegretti, Aubrey (23 August 2021). "UK evacuation from Afghanistan 'down to hours not weeks'". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  111. ^ Jain, Rupam; Gopalakrishnan, Raju (23 August 2021). Fenton, Susan (ed.). "Taliban won't extend Aug. 31 deadline for Western forces to leave -Taliban sources". National Post. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  112. ^ Beaumont, Peter; Connolly, Kate (23 August 2021). "Afghan guard killed in Kabul airport gun battle". The Guardian.
  113. ^ Zimonjic, Peter (23 August 2021). "Special forces working outside of Kabul airport to escort Canadians, Afghans onto flights to Canada: official". CBC News. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  114. ^ "Operation AEGIS". Government of Canada. 24 August 2021. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  115. ^ "Taliban has held promises 'so far' -Biden". Reuters. 23 August 2021.
  116. ^ Heavey, Susan (24 August 2021). Heavens, Andrew (ed.). "CIA director met Taliban leader in Afghanistan on Monday -sources". Reuters. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021.
  117. ^ "CIA chief secretly met with Taliban leader in Kabul: Report". Al Jazeera. 24 August 2021.
  118. ^ Asghar, Mohammad (23 August 2021). "EU, ADB seek PIA's help to evacuate people from Kabul". Dawn. Pakistan.
  119. ^ Hasan, Tariq Abul (21 August 2021). "Lack of facilities: PIA suspends flight operations to Kabul". geo.tv. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  120. ^ "Operation AEGIS". 4 October 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  121. ^ a b c d e f Cooper, Helene; Schmitt, Eric (24 August 2021). "Military Ramps Up Evacuations From Kabul, but Bottlenecks Persist". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  122. ^ Pirsos, John (26 August 2021). "Some veterans angered by events in Afghanistan". wwnytv.com. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  123. ^ Barrett, William (25 October 2021). "Massachusetts National Guard Unit Impacts Final Days of Afghanistan Mission". DVIDS. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  124. ^ Anderson, Charlie (15 September 2021). "How a few good 'Bastards' from the Army National Guard helped secure the Kabul airport". Task & Purpose. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  125. ^ Darmadi, Mala (24 August 2021). "Fijians among those to be evacuated from Afghanistan". Australia: ABC News. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  126. ^ Lee, Yong-soo (25 August 2021). "Korea Airlifts Afghan Allies out of Kabul". chosun.com. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  127. ^ Roth, Andrew (24 August 2021). "Ukraine denies minister's claims of hijacked Afghanistan evacuation flight". The Guardian.
  128. ^ Luscombe, Richard (29 August 2021). "Congressmen criticized over Kabul visit say they were 'uniquely situated' for trip". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  129. ^ "RESEVAC/Afghanistan : L'État-major des armées fait le bilan de l'opération d'évacuation APAGAN". Opex360. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  130. ^ "自衛隊機がカブールに 退避希望者は空港へたどり着けず：朝日新聞デジタル". 朝日新聞デジタル (in Japanese). 26 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  131. ^ Seligman, Lara; Desiderio, Andrew; Ward, Alexander (26 August 2021). "U.S. officials provided Taliban with names of Americans, Afghan allies to evacuate". Politico. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  132. ^ Miller, Andrew (26 August 2021). "Biden doesn't deny report of US handing over names of Americans to Taliban: 'There may have been'". Fox News. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  133. ^ Tunney, Catharine (26 August 2021). "Canada's airlift mission from Kabul ends, leaving many behind". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021.
  134. ^ "Canada ends Afghanistan evacuation mission". BBC News. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  135. ^ Hurst, Daniel (26 August 2021). "Australian soldiers ended Afghanistan evacuation mission before Kabul attacks". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  136. ^ a b "Afghanistan: Final German evacuation flight leaves Kabul airport". Deutsche Welle.
  137. ^ a b Manch, Thomas (27 August 2021). "Possibly hundreds left behind as New Zealand Afghanistan evacuation mission ends after Kabul terror attack". New Zealand: Stuff. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  138. ^ Hashemi, Sayed Ziarmal; Faiez, Rahim; Baldor, Lolita; Krauss, Joseph (25 August 2021). "At least 13 dead, including several U.S. Marines, in two explosions outside Kabul's airport; Taliban condemn attack". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  139. ^ Saric, Ivana (26 August 2021). "U.S. allies scramble to leave Afghanistan". axios.com.
  140. ^ "Türk askerlerinin Afganistan'dan tahliyesi kararı nasıl alındı?" (in Turkish). BBC News Türkçe. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  141. ^ Elhamy, Ahmad; Zengerle, Patricia; Martina, Michael; Ali, Idrees; Nichols, Michelle; Ahmad, Jibran (26 August 2021). Cooney, Peter; Milliken, Mary; Wallis, Daniel (eds.). "Islamic State claims responsibility for deadly Kabul airport attack". Reuters. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  142. ^ a b c "Kabul airport attack: What do we know?". BBC News. 27 August 2021.
  143. ^ Schmitt, Eric (25 August 2021). "ISIS Branch Poses Biggest Immediate Terrorist Threat to Evacuation in Kabul". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  144. ^ Ali, Idrees; Brunnstrom, David; Nichols, Michelle (27 August 2021). Nomiyama, Chizu; Goller, Howard (eds.). "Pentagon says Kabul attack carried out by one suicide bomber". Reuters. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021.
  145. ^ a b c Cooper, Helene; Schmitt, Eric; Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (27 August 2021). "As U.S. Troops Searched Afghans, a Bomber in the Crowd Moved In". The New York Times.
  146. ^ a b Hudson, John; Horton, Alex; Ryan, Missy; Lamothe, Dan (16 August 2021). "Twin bombings at Kabul airport kill 13 U.S. service members and dozens of Afghans". The Washington Post.
  147. ^ a b Trofimov, Yaroslav; Youssef, Nancy A.; Rasmussen, Sune Engel (27 August 2021). "Kabul Airport Attack Kills 13 U.S. Service Members, at Least 90 Afghans". The Wall Street Journal.
  148. ^ Victor, Daniel; ur-Rehman, Zia; Huylebroek, Jim; Specia, Megan; Abed, Fahim (27 August 2021). "Kabul's escape routes narrow, but the fearful still seek safety". The New York Times.
  149. ^ Smith-Spark, Laura; Starr, Barbara; Walsh, Nick Paton (28 August 2021). "US carries out Afghanistan drone strike as Kabul evacuation effort enters final stretch". CNN.
  150. ^ "France says its evacuation operation from Kabul is finished". Reuters. 27 August 2021. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  151. ^ "Spain ends Kabul airlifts after flying out 2,200 people". Khaleej Times.
  152. ^ "Sweden ends Afghanistan evacuations". The Local Europe. 27 August 2021. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  153. ^ "Switzerland ends evacuations from Kabul". thelocal.ch. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021.
  154. ^ Sangal, Aditi; Yeung, Jessie; Lendon, Brad; John, Tara; Rocha, Veronica; Macaya, Melissa; Wagner, Meg; Alfonso III, Fernando (27 August 2021). "Kabul death toll increases to more than 90 Afghans killed, 150 wounded, according to the Afghan Health Ministry". CNN. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  155. ^ "Afghanistan : la France a mis fin à son opération d'évacuation vers Paris". Le Monde. 28 August 2021.
  156. ^ Il ministro degli Esteri Di Maio riferisce al Senato sull'Afghanistan: "L'Italia ha salvato 4890 afghani sul totale di 5011, il numero più alto tra i Paesi dell'Ue. Fra tutti gli alleati evacuate 120 mila persone". #ANSA, Agenzia ANSA
  157. ^ "Afganistan'dan tahliye edilen Azerbaycan askerleri Bakü'de". Ahaber (in Turkish). 27 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  158. ^ "İkinci TSK kafilesi de Afganistan'dan Türkiye'ye dönüş yaptı". Euronews (in Turkish). 27 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  159. ^ "アフガン派遣の自衛隊撤収へ 退避できたのは日本人1人：朝日新聞デジタル". 朝日新聞デジタル (in Japanese). 30 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  160. ^ a b "Afghanistan: Final UK flight for civilians leaves Kabul, says government". BBC News. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  161. ^ "PM's tribute as UK troops leave Kabul". BBC News. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  162. ^ "Taliban ask Turkey for technical help to run Kabul airport: Officials". Daily Sabah. 25 August 2021. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  163. ^ Soylu, Ragip; Kemal, Levent (29 August 2021). "EXCLUSIVE: Turkey and Taliban close to deal on Kabul airport". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  164. ^ Coskun, Orhan; Kucukgocmen, Ali; Gumrukcu, Tuvan; Devranoglu, Nezat (27 August 2021). "Turkey won't help at Kabul airport without its own security -officials". Reuters. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  165. ^ Jha, Anuja (29 August 2021). "Taliban seal off Kabul airport as US, allies wound up airlift". India Today. Associated Press.
  166. ^ "Taliban guarantee security of Kabul airport: Spokesperson". Daily Sabah. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  167. ^ "U.S. announces joint arrangement to continue evacuating Afghan allies past Aug. 31". Axios. 29 August 2021.
  168. ^ a b "Afghanistan: US investigates civilian deaths in Kabul strike". BBC News. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  169. ^ Gannon, Kathy; C. Baldor, Lolita; Akhgar, Tameem; Krauss, Joseph; Gambrell, Jon (29 August 2021). "US says drone kills IS bombers targeting Kabul airport". Associated Press. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  170. ^ Smith-Spark, Laura; Vandoorne, Saskya; Liebermann, Oren; Walsh, Nick Paton; Sidhu, Sandi; Tapper, Jake; Lister, Tim; Mendonca, Duarte; Alkhaldi, Celina; Bentz, Leslie; Hoffman, Jason; Wojazer, Barbara; Messia, Hada; Hodge, Nathan (29 August 2021). "Nine family members killed in US airstrike in Kabul targeting suspected ISIS-K bomber, relative says". CNN. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  171. ^ Tian, Yew Lun (30 August 2021). Cameron-Moore, Simon (ed.). "Taliban says U.S. drone strike in Kabul also killed civilians – Chinese state TV". Reuters. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  172. ^ Aikins, Matthieu; Rahim, Najim; Schmitt, Eric (30 August 2021). "Afghanistan: US investigates civilian deaths in Kabul strike". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  173. ^ Sidhu, Sandi; Paton Walsh, Nick; Lister, Tim; Liebermann, Oren; Smith-Spark, Laura; Vandoorne, Saskya (30 August 2021). "Ten family members, including children, killed in US strike in Kabul, relative says". CNN. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  174. ^ "Rockets target U.S. troops as Afghanistan withdrawal enters final stage". CNBC. Reuters. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  175. ^ Elhamy, Ahmed (30 August 2021). "Rockets target U.S. troops as Afghanistan withdrawal enters final stage". Reuters. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  176. ^ "UN adopts Afghanistan resolution, but no 'safe zone'". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021.
  177. ^ "Inside the Final Hours at Kabul Airport". Government Executive. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  178. ^ Gaouette, Nicole; Hansler, Jennifer; Starr, Barbara; Liebermann, Oren (30 August 2021). "The last US military planes have left Afghanistan, marking the end of the United States' longest war". CNN. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  179. ^ Doherty, Ben (31 August 2021). "Last man out: the haunting image of America's final moments in Afghanistan". The Guardian.
  180. ^ Graham-Harrison, Emma (31 August 2021). "Taliban enjoy moment of victory as focus shifts to challenges ahead". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  181. ^ "After U.S. withdrawal, Taliban shift focus to governing amid deepening economic crisis". CBC News. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  182. ^ Afghanistan: US confirms first evacuations since pullout, (9 September 2021).
  183. ^ Alex Marquardt, Chandelis Duster and Brianna Keil, US helped 4 US citizens leave Afghanistan overland, official says, CNN (6 September 2021).
  184. ^ a b First foreigners fly out of Kabul since US pullout, BBC News (9 September 2021).
  185. ^ Tapper, Jake (11 October 2021). "Afghan interpreter who helped rescue Biden in 2008 gets out of Afghanistan". CNN. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  186. ^ "Afghan resettlement scheme to finally open in January". The Herald. 23 December 2021.
  187. ^ Ronn Blitzer (26 October 2021). "Pentagon confirms nearly 450 Americans trapped in Afghanistan".
  188. ^ a b c d e f Loveday Morris, Separation mixes with hope and uncertainty in the U.S. base hosting Afghan evacuees The Washington Post (24 August 2021)
  189. ^ a b Williams, Holly (25 August 2021). "Thousands of Afghan evacuees housed at U.S. military base in Germany on their way to a new life". CBS. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  190. ^ a b c Eddy, Melissa (1 September 2021). "'Finally, I Am Safe': U.S. Air Base Becomes Temporary Refuge for Afghans". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  191. ^ a b "Richmond area drop-off locations for supplies for Afghan refugees heading to Fort Lee". Richmond Times-Dispatch. 25 August 2021. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  192. ^ North, Emma (24 August 2021). "Fort Pickett prepares to welcome Afghan refugees in addition to Fort Lee". WRIC ABC 8News. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  193. ^ Ljunggren, David; Scherer, Steve (13 August 2021). Hepinstall, Sonya; Chang, Richard (eds.). "Canada to accept 20,000 vulnerable Afghans such as women leaders, human rights workers". Reuters. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  194. ^ Marchand, Laura (13 March 2022). "Canada promised to bring in 40,000 Afghan refugees. Only 8,500 have arrived". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
  195. ^ Walker, Peter (17 August 2021). "How is UK planning to help resettle Afghan refugees?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  196. ^ "UK announces plan to resettle 20,000 refugees from Afghanistan". Al Jazeera. 18 August 2021. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  197. ^ "370 evacuees from Afghanistan headed for New Zealand, Foreign Affairs says". Radio New Zealand. 28 August 2021. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  198. ^ Hawley, Caroline (10 October 2021). "UK to resettle teenage Afghan women footballers and families". BBC News. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  199. ^ Jamal, Sana (28 August 2021). "Pakistan emerges as 'biggest base for evacuation' of foreigners from Afghanistan". Gulf News.
  200. ^ "113 evacuation flights land in Islamabad as Pakistan contains fallout". Samaa TV. 27 August 2021.
  201. ^ Asghar, Mohammad (28 August 2021). "400 flights from Islamabad take part in evacuation from Afghanistan". Dawn. Pakistan.
  202. ^ Malik, Mansoor (28 August 2021). "Pakistan offers transit visas to foreigners stuck in Afghanistan". Dawn. Pakistan.
  203. ^ Wenande, Christian (18 August 2021). "Denmark thanks Pakistan for Afghanistan evacuation help". The Copenhagen Post.
  204. ^ "Dutch PM thanks Imran for support in evacuation efforts in Afghanistan". Dawn. Pakistan. Associated Press of Pakistan. 19 August 2021.
  205. ^ "In call with Dutch counterpart, PM Imran Khan says stable Afghanistan critically important for Pakistan". Geo News. 20 August 2021.
  206. ^ "'Bohat Shukria': German envoy thanks Pakistan for help in evacuating citizens from Kabul". Geo News. 23 August 2021.
  207. ^ "IMF chief thanks PM for evacuation of staff from Kabul". Dawn. Pakistan. 25 August 2021.
  208. ^ Yousafzai, Ayaz Akbar (26 August 2021). "ADB lauds Pakistan's role in evacuations from Afghanistan". Geo News.
  209. ^ a b "European Council chief calls PM Imran, thanks for Afghan evacuation". Dawn. Pakistan. 27 August 2021.
  210. ^ Sayal, Rajeev (29 August 2021). "Ministers 'asleep on watch' over safety of Afghans, says ex-British army chief". The Guardian.
  211. ^ Savage, Michael; Ellis-Petersen, Hannah; Graham-Harrison, Emma (28 August 2021). "Revealed: Foreign Office ignored frantic pleas to help Afghans". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021.
  212. ^ Davies, Caroline; Allegretti, Aubrey (26 August 2021). "UK defence secretary hits out at supporters of animal rescuer in Kabul". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  213. ^ Bird, Steve; Fisher, Lucy; Penna, Dominic; Malnick, Edward (28 August 2021). "Pen Farthing said to have left voicemail for Ben Wallace's adviser: 'I am going to destroy you'". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  214. ^ Jackson, Siba (28 August 2021). "Afghanistan: Pen Farthing 'on his way home with his dogs and cats' after charter plane picks them up from Kabul". Sky News. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  215. ^ Frantzman, Seth J. (31 August 2021). "Questions raised over Afghan animals put ahead of people in Kabul". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  216. ^ Wadhera, Celine (28 August 2021). "Afghan staff left behind as Pen Farthing evacuated from Kabul with dogs and cats". The Independent. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021.
  217. ^ Elledge, Jonn (27 August 2021). "The row over Afghan pets shows the UK's animal obsession has gone too far". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021.
  218. ^ "Afghan embassy guards protest unpaid salaries, lack of evacuation by Finland". Yle Uutiset. 29 August 2021.
  219. ^ Franklin, Jonathan (24 August 2021). "Airbnb Will Provide Housing To 20,000 Afghan Refugees Around The World For Free". NPR. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021.

Further reading

edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2021_Kabul_airlift&oldid=1253646008"