As the final 5 US navy transport planes left Afghanistan, they left behind 200 Americans and 1000’s of determined Afghans who couldn’t get out and now need to depend on the Taliban to permit their departure.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned the US would proceed to attempt to get Americans and Afghans in a foreign country, and would work with Afghanistan’s neighbors on the reopening of Kabul airport.
“We have no illusions that either of these will be easier or faster,” Blinken mentioned, including that the whole variety of Americans dwelling in Afghanistan and nonetheless keen to go away may very well be nearer to 100.
Speaking shortly after the Pentagon introduced the completion of a US navy pullout on Monday, Blinken mentioned the US embassy in Kabul would stay closed and empty for the foreseeable future. He mentioned that US diplomats will probably be in Doha, Qatar.
“We will continue our tireless efforts to help Americans, foreign nationals and Afghans leave Afghanistan,” Blinken mentioned in a State Department deal with. “There is no time limit to our commitment to them.”
Marine General Frank McKenzie, the pinnacle of US Central Command, informed reporters that US forces managed to drag out 1,500 Afghans within the closing hours of the US evacuation mission. But now it will likely be as much as the State Department working with the Taliban to get extra folks out.
McKenzie mentioned no civilians had been stranded on the airport and nobody was on the previous few navy flights. He mentioned the US navy maintained the flexibility to take the Americans out till simply earlier than the tip, however “none of them made it to the airport.”
“There are a lot of heartbreaks with this departure,” McKenzie mentioned. “We did not get everybody we needed to get out. But I feel if we stayed 10 extra days, we would not have gotten everybody we needed out.” McKenzie and different officers painted a vivid image of the ultimate hours that American troops had been on the bottom, and The preparations he made to make sure the Taliban and Islamic State group militants stored US navy weapon programs and different tools working.
The terror menace stays a serious drawback in Afghanistan, with a minimum of 2,000 “hard core” members of the Islamic State group dwelling within the nation, lots of whom have been launched from prisons for the reason that Taliban got here beneath management.
Officials mentioned the weapons programs used to counter IS rockets launched towards the airport hours earlier had been stored operational till the “last minute”, underscoring the present safety threats, because the final US navy The aircraft took off. One of the final issues American troops did was to disable the so-called C-RAMs (Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar System).
McKenzie mentioned he “demilitarized” the system in order that it may by no means be used once more. Officials mentioned troopers didn’t fly tools to make sure they go away the airport workable for future flights as soon as they resume. In addition, McKenzie mentioned the US has additionally disabled 27 Humvees and 73 plane in order that they will by no means be used once more.
Throughout the day, as the ultimate C-17 transport planes ready to take off, McKenzie mentioned the US had “overwhelmed American air power” to take care of potential IS threats.
Back on the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley watched the ultimate 90 minutes of navy departures in actual time from an operations middle within the basement.
According to a US official, he sat quietly as he watched troopers verify the runway on the final minute, disable key protection programs and board a C-17. The officer mentioned that because the final aircraft took off, you possibly can hear the pin falling, and the leaders across the room heaved a sigh of aid. Later, Austin known as Major General Christopher Donahue, the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, who was coordinating the evacuation. Donahue and appearing US ambassador to Afghanistan Ross Wilson had been the final to board the final aircraft that departed Kabul.
Officials spoke on situation of anonymity to offer particulars of the navy operations.
“Just because we’re gone, doesn’t mean that the opportunity for both the Americans living in Afghanistan and the Afghans who want to leave will not be denied that opportunity,” McKenzie mentioned.
The navy left some tools for the Taliban to function the airport, together with two firetrucks, some front-end loaders and plane ladders.
Blinken mentioned that the US would work with Turkey and Qatar to assist get Kabul airport operating once more.
“This will enable a smaller number of daily charter flights, which is a key for anyone looking to depart from Afghanistan moving forward,” he mentioned.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
