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Thursday, August 26, 2021

Blast outside Kabul airport kills at least 13, including children, Taliban official says

MM:

Blast outside Kabul airport kills at least 13, including children, Taliban official says


Crowds of people are seen on the tarmac at Kabul's airport in Afghanistan. — Reuters pic

AUG 26 — A suspected suicide bomb exploded outside Kabul airport today, killing at least 13 people including children, a Taliban official said, after the United States and allies urged Afghans to leave the area because of a threat by Islamic State.

The official said many Taliban guards were wounded.

A US official said US service members were among the wounded, adding he was citing an initial report and cautioning that it could change. He said there were casualties but did not know how many or of what nationality.

Thousands of people have been gathering outside the airport in recent days. Western troops are racing to evacuate foreigners and Afghans who helped Western countries during the 20-year war against the Taliban, and to get out themselves by an Aug. 31 deadline.

A Pentagon spokesman confirmed an explosion near the Abbey Gate entrance to the airport had caused an unknown number of casualties. A Western diplomat in Kabul earlier said areas outside the airport gates were “incredibly crowded” again despite warnings of a potential attack.

Many US officials said the blast appeared to be a suicide attack and a witness in Kabul saw many wounded men, women and children waiting for treatment outside a hospital.

Western countries have been warning of a threat by Islamic State militants.

The Taliban, whose fighters are guarding the perimeter outside the airport, are enemies of the Afghan affiliate of Islamic State, known as Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), after an old name for the region.

“Our guards are also risking their lives at Kabul airport, they face a threat too from the Islamic State group,” said a Taliban official, who spoke on condition of anonymity and before the reports of the explosion.

US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the explosion, according to a White House official. Biden was in a meeting with security officials about the situation in Afghanistan when the explosion was first reported, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The concerns about an attack came against a chaotic backdrop in Kabul, where the massive airlift of foreign nationals and their families as well as some Afghans has been under way since the day before the Taliban captured the city on Aug. 15, capping a lightning advance across the country as US and allied troops withdrew.

Canadian halt

Canadian forces halted their evacuations of around 3,700 Canadian and Afghan citizens today, saying they had stayed as long as they could before the deadline lapses. US and allied troops also have to plan the logistics of their own withdrawal.

“We wish we could have stayed longer and rescued everyone,” the acting chief of Canada’s defence staff, General Wayne Eyre, told reporters.

Biden ordered all troops out of Afghanistan by the end of the month to comply with a withdrawal agreement with the Taliban, despite European allies saying they needed more time.

In an alert yesterday, the US Embassy in Kabul advised citizens to avoid travelling to the airport and said those already at the gates should leave immediately.

British Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said intelligence about a possible suicide bomb attack by IS militants had become “much firmer”.

“The threat is credible, it is imminent, it is lethal. We wouldn’t be saying this if we weren’t genuinely concerned about offering Islamic State a target that is just unimaginable,” Heappey told BBC radio.

Australia also issued a warning for people to stay away from the airport while Belgium ended its evacuation operations because of the danger of an attack. The Netherlands said it expected to carry out its last evacuation flight today.

ISIS-K

Fighters claiming allegiance to ISIS-K first began appearing in eastern Afghanistan at the end of 2014 but the ultra-radical Sunni movement soon expanded from the area near the border with Pakistan where it first appeared.

Daesh, as it is widely known in Afghanistan, established a reputation for extreme brutality as it fought the Taliban both for ideological reasons and for control of local smuggling and narcotics routes, according to Western intelligence services.

It also claimed a series of suicide attacks in cities such as Kabul, where as well as government and civilian institutions, it particularly attacked targets associated with the Shi’ite religious minority.

The US military has said it would prioritise evacuating its troops, numbering about 5,200, in the two days before the deadline to leave..

Since the day before the Taliban swept into Kabul, the United States and its allies have mounted one of the biggest air evacuations in history, bringing out about 95,700 people, including 13,400 yesterday, the White House said today.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at least 4,500 American citizens and their families had been evacuated from Afghanistan since mid-August.

The Taliban have encouraged Afghans to stay, while saying those with permission to leave will still be allowed to do so once foreign troops leave and commercial flights resume.

The Taliban’s 1996-2001 rule was marked by public executions and the curtailment of basic freedoms. Women were barred from school or work. The group was overthrown two decades ago by US-led forces for hosting the al Qaeda militants who masterminded the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

The Taliban have said they will respect human rights and will not allow terrorists to operate from the country. — Reuters



14 comments:

  1. This terrorist bombing confirms the correct decision for western Allies to leave Afghanistan ASAP.

    After 20 years of providing free bodyguard services, spoon feeding and babysitting the entire country it is time to say Sayonara. But the Afghans just simply don’t have the stomach to fight for their country. Many tribes and warlords: Taliban, Telly-Ban, Al Qaeda, ISIS-K you name it. Just about every country is cabut-ing, closing their embassies, even the Russians are quietly leaving, only 5000 yo Bullyland will be left alone in Kabul. Good luck to them, play Belt and Road with Taliban, then when ISIS-K take over play with them pulak. In the short-term all western countries have stopped foreign aid and loans to Cruel Taliban. Afghan Foreign assets are frozen. So 5000 yo Bullyland must take over single-handedly. Bodyguard services, babysit and spoon feed. Don’t Run Away Yah…like you did in 1993.

    Note:
    Bullyland like military type regimes, after all Original Mao came to power using the barrel of a gun. Today Modern Mao is secretly sapoting the Myanmar military junta after they overthrew a democratically elected gomen led by Aung San Su Kyi.

    In Afghanistan they sapot Taliban who seized power using automatic weapons at Presidential palace. Reminiscent of Lhasa in 1959 at Dalai Lama’s house also at gun point. It is no coincidence that Bullyland has the worlds largest standing army, largest navy and aspire to have largest air force. For what? Belt and Road or Belt you Down My Road?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "... After 20 years of providing free bodyguard services, spoon feeding and babysitting the entire country "???

      WTF have you been smoking? wakakaka

      the US has been an unwelcomed intruder and oppressive occupier of the land, torturing its innocent citizens

      Delete
    2. Not smoking any of that Taliban opium....ha ha ha...

      Thousands upon thousands of Afghans are rushing for the door, desperate to escape to the countries of the "oppressor occupier of the land". Thousands more at land borders trying to escape to surrounding stan states.

      But no Afghan is knocking on the door of the 5000 yo Bullyland's embassy in Kabul, seeking asylum?

      Anyway, if you insist that all these occupiers are/were unwelcome then they are leaving now as you wish. Sayonara Kabul.

      Delete
    3. China foreign policy is non-intervention. To say "Today Modern Mao is secretly sapoting the Myanmar military junta" and "In Afghanistan they sapot Taliban who seized power" is akin to libel.

      US is the one created the monster Taliban. They should be responsible to take-out or take-down the monster. They didn't after 20 years and when they sneaked out in the night because it is their evil intention not to leave the Chinese border a peaceful place. They are hoping the religious extremism will creep into the Chinese border to create problem for China.

      It's true, you are smoking smoking! Wakakaka

      Delete
    4. Wakakakakaka…

      "Thousands upon thousands of Afghans are rushing for the door, desperate to escape to the countries of the "oppressor occupier of the land".

      What doors?

      Blurred mfer, the Kabul international airport where yr famed allied of 'humanistic' farts were evacuating to save their ass & hopefully some confidant carpetbaggers!

      These thousands upon thousands of Afghans r how many % of the Kabul population? What happened to ALL those not gathering at the Kabul airport for their escapades to those various western 'Al Jannah'?

      All been in prison/killed by the Taliban?

      In fact, one can see the logic of Taliban to let these western confidantes leave. Since these people have no faith in the ability of the new Taliban, then it's best for them to go oversea with the helps of those evacuating invaders.

      Good riddance - remember this!

      Delete
  2. China has been un unwelcomed intruder and oppressive occupier of Tibet since 1949, torturing its innocent civilians.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wakakakakaka…

      Alleviating yr lying farts to ease it constipation?

      Delete
  3. Taliban so cock-sure confident, claim to be in charge, new gomen of Afghanistan, invade Presidential Palace with automatic weapons, even got blessing of 5000 yo Bullyland in Beijing.

    But they can't even conduct sentry-duty at Kabul airport entrance.

    Soon ISIS-K may shoot their way into Presidential Palace and claim to be the new Afghan gomen, will 5000 yo Bullyland then invite them to the Great Hall of The People for photo-op too?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wakakakaka…

      Wait for the story to unfold lah.

      The bombings happened at the Abbey gate & Baron hotel where the Yankee & pommie arm forces were holding fort!

      U r f*ckingly naive to expect the Taliban to do security works for the Yankee & pommie!

      Delete
  4. Pak Hadi bellowed: Don't Believe Western Press, the Telly-ban have changed".

    So will they say Sorry and re-build the Bamiyan Buddha Statues that they blew up?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a fart!

      If u truly understand the old Afghan Taliban structure u would have know that the group who blew up the Bamiyan Buddha Statue was no more!

      Do u expect the yank to rebuilt the Mỹ Lai in vietnam?

      Delete
  5. Jibby, please hentam your keyboard and demand the gomen you sapot (Ismail Sabri) issue official Malay-sian stand to oppose ISIS-K, AKA Daesh.

    Don't forget oso to clarify your stand on Taliban, we want to know if it is consistent with your fellow gomen MPs Pak Hadi's (don't believe Western Press, Taliban has changed) or ex-Menteri Hazmat Telly-ban's (I want to teach Taliban how to liberate women).

    QUOTE
    Fight Daesh lies with truth about Islam: PM Najib
    By Lokman Mansor - August 2, 2016

    JAKARTA: Muslim-majority countries should take the lead in condemning the scourge of Daesh, terrorists who blaspheme the religion by falsely claiming the mantle of an Islamic State, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said.

    There is nothing Islamic about a group that practises such barbarities, the prime minister said in his speech at the 12th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) here today.

    “We must fight their lies with the truth about Islam. We must oppose with all our might their attempts to indoctrinate our young people, and to take advantage of those on the margins or who have lost their way.

    “And we must ensure that appropriate legislation is in place to let our security and police forces take all measures necessary to stop attacks before they take place, and to root out those who would spread fear and chaos in our lands.

    “Malaysia stands firmly against Daesh and their accomplices, both at home and abroad. This is why we have set up a Regional Digital Counter-Messaging Communications Centre just outside Kuala Lumpur.

    “It is soon to be operational, and we will gladly share our expertise in preventing radicalisation, and in helping to deradicalise men and women who have fallen for the deceits of this wicked, and un-Islamic, group. We will be steadfast in this fight – for it concerns us all,” Najib said.
    UNQUOTE

    ReplyDelete
  6. Repeat of Soviet 1989 retreat. Now Russia feeling the heat in Kabul. Cabut-ing like everybody else.

    Everybody except stone-faced 5000 yo Bullyland of course, who remain fren fren with Cruel Taliban. Don’t run away ya? The Afghan baby is now all yours, please raise him up for 20 years at least.

    QUOTE
    Russia starts Kabul evacuations as security situation worsens

    August 25, 2021 1:38 pm by Max Seddon in Moscow and Amy Kazmin in New Delhi

    President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russia’s defence ministry to begin evacuating its citizens from Kabul as the Kremlin expressed increased concern at the security situation in Afghanistan.

    Moscow has sent four military transport planes to evacuate more than 500 people, the defence ministry said on Wednesday, including Russians and citizens of Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine.
    UNQUOTE

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wakakakakaka…

      Following the glaring examples of those WASP inspired nations, especially yr uncle Sam.

      At least the embassies of Russia/China r still operating to monitor & coordinate international humanitarian efforts sans of those selected demoNcratic parades in Kabul.

      Afghanistan isn't just Kabul alone!

      Delete