With the U.S. military and diplomatic withdrawal now complete after 20 years in Afghanistan, the Taliban has taken over the country, including the Kabul airport, the site of an often-desperate evacuation effort in past weeks.
But even as the last American troops were flown out to meet President Joe Biden’s Aug. 31 deadline, other Americans who wanted to flee the country were left behind. The Biden administration is now focused on a “diplomatic mission” to help them leave but some hoping to evacuate are still stuck in the country. Meanwhile, the Taliban has announced its new “caretaker” government that includes men with U.S. bounties on their heads — and no women.
Latest headlines:
Drone strike that killed 10 Afghans was ‘a mistake’: US general
7 Marines injured in attack at Kabul airport remain at Walter Reed
Funerals being held for service members killed in Kabul airport bombing
US coordinating cross-border travel of Americans
Dems join GOP in grilling Blinken over Afghanistan withdrawal
Blinken addresses Americans, SIV applicants left behind
Here are the latest developments. All times Eastern.
Sep 17, 6:34 pm
Drone strike that killed 10 Afghans was ‘a mistake’: US general
A drone strike near the Kabul airport last month that killed 10 Afghans was “a mistake,” U.S. Central Command Gen. Frank McKenzie admitted at a briefing Friday.
The U.S. believed it was targeting a terrorist in the Aug. 29 strike, but McKenzie said it is unlikely that those who died or the targeted vehicle were associated with ISIS-K “or were a direct threat to U.S. forces.”
MORE: US general admits drone strike near Afghan airport that killed 10 was a ‘mistake’
As many as 10 civilians, including up to seven children, died in the strike, according to McKenzie.
“I offer my profound condolences to the family and friends of those who were killed,” the general said.
Sep 15, 5:34 pm
More overland evacuations of Americans from Afghanistan: State Department
One more U.S. citizen and two more lawful permanent residents evacuated Afghanistan via overland routes Tuesday, according to State Dept. spokesperson Ned Price.
The State Department provided guidance to them, engaged the Taliban on their safe passage, and had consular officials on the other side of the border to greet them, he said.
Price declined to say which country they transited to, but said these overland evacuations have taken different routes.
To date, at least 36 U.S. citizens and 24 Green Card holders have been evacuated since the U.S. military completed its withdrawal — including seven U.S. citizens and 13 Green Card holders via overland routes in total.
Yet, the agency still said the number of American citizens who want to leave is still 100. Despite growing skepticism about that number, Price — just as Blinken did Tuesday and Monday — said the number is “dynamic” because the situation is so fluid, with some Americans changing their minds about seeking U.S. help, especially as they see that “we are living up to our commitment … in safe and effective ways.”
He also implied that the lists of other Americans that aid groups, lawmakers and others have often don’t end up including folks who aren’t U.S. citizens, but the “distant relatives” and friends of Americans who come asking for help.
The U.S. continues to talk to the Taliban, but those discussions are largely about Americans’ safe passage, according to Price, calling them “pragmatic,” “technical” and “focused on practical issues.”
There’s still been no evacuations from Mazar-e-Sharif, the northern city where chartered planes had been organized but barred from taking off. Price said they’re not aware of any flights departing there, but again admitted the limits of U.S. power here saying the U.S. had pulled “every lever” available to get these flights out.
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She and her husband, who came to Kabul several months ago to visit relatives, are now terrified that the Taliban will not only uncover their American ties but those of their son back in Texas, who had worked for a U.S. military contractor for years.
Her son, who is also not being named, says he called U.S. embassy officials in Kabul several times before it shut down, filled out all the necessary paperwork, and even enlisted the help of a veteran’s group and members of Congress.
He doesn’t know what more he can do.
“What will we do if they knock on the door?” the 57-year-old mother asked on one of her daily calls. “What will we do?”
“Nothing is going to happen,” replied the son.
Asked in a recent interview if he believed that, the son shot back, exasperated, “What else am I supposed to tell her?”
