US Embassy Warned American Citizens to avoid Kabul Airport over Security Threats

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On Wednesday, US Embassy in Kabul sent out an alert and advised US citizens to prevent traveling to Kabul airport. The security alert said, “Because of security threats outside the gates of Kabul airport, we are advising U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to the airport and to avoid airport gates at this time unless you receive individual instructions from a U.S. government representative to do so. U.S. citizens who are at the Abbey Gate, East Gate, or North Gate now should leave immediately”. The embassy also warned Americans to be aware of their surroundings at all times. Americans must follow the instructions of local authorities due to they have contingency plans in case of emergencies, monitor local media, and follow the State Department on social media. It is still unclear why they issued an advisory for American citizens.

A State Department spokesperson informed a news channel and said, “As a general rule, we don’t speak to intelligence, but this is a dynamic and volatile security situation on the ground. We take seriously the priority we attach to the safety and security of American citizens”. On Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said there are more than 1,500 Americans still need to leave the country as part of the massive evacuation effort of the Biden administration in the wake of the Taliban’s takeover. The Biden administration has boosted the pace of evacuations of US citizens and at-risk Afghans from Kabul in recent days. The White House said that the US is evacuating at least 82 thousand people on US military and coalition flights from Kabul since August 14.

Army Major General Hank Taylor said there are still more than 10,000 people at the Kabul airport waiting to leave. President Biden said that contingency plans to meet his 31^st August deadline for withdrawing all remaining US forces from Afghanistan. However, the deadline doesn’t signal an end to America’s involvement in the country. The acting US ambassador to Afghanistan said, “We would like for all those who wish to get out of this country to do so and to be able to do so by 31^st August, especially American citizens. Our commitment to this country and our involvement in this country don’t end on that date. We believe that there will be possibilities for Americans to be able to get out of this country. America’s commitment to American citizens and to those who served our country that isn’t going to end”.