KABUL: The United States has an unwavering commitment to getting U.S. citizens and at-risk Afghans out of Afghanistan, President Joe Biden said, as Taliban fighters beat back thousands desperate to flee outside Kabul airport on Sunday.
Biden said the security situation in Afghanistan was changing rapidly and his administration was under no illusions about the threat from Islamic State militants in Afghanistan known as ISIS-K (for Khorasan).
The Taliban, which seized power in Afghanistan last week as the United States and its allies withdrew troops after a 20-year war, fired in the air and used batons to force people to form queues outside the airport, witnesses said. On Saturday, seven Afghans were killed in a crush at the gates.
A NATO official said at least 20 people had died in the past seven days in and around the airport. Some were shot and others died in stampedes, witnesses have said.
"Let me be clear, the evacuation of thousands from Kabul is going to be hard and painful" and would have been "no matter when it began," Biden said in a briefing at the White House.
"We have a long way to go and a lot could still go wrong."
Biden said he had directed the State Department to contact Americans stranded in Afghanistan by phone, email and other means, and the United States had a plan to move them to the airport.
"We're executing a plan to move groups of these Americans to safety and to safely and effectively move them to the airport compound. For security reasons, I'm not going to go into detail ... but I will say again today what I've said before: Any American who wants to get home will get home."
Afghan allies of the West and vulnerable Afghans such as women activists and journalists would be helped too, he said.
On Sunday, there were no major injuries as gunmen beat back the crowds, according to witnesses. The Taliban had been "cooperative" about extending the airport perimeter, Biden said.
Asked by a reporter whether the United States would extend an Aug. 31 deadline for evacuations, Biden replied: "Our hope is we will not have to extend but there are going to be discussions I suspect on how far along we are in the process."
CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT
The United States on Sunday sought the help of six commercial airlines to transport people after their evacuation from Afghanistan. Biden said people were being assisted by more than two dozen countries in four continents.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called a virtual meeting of leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy nations for Tuesday to "ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people".
Britain plans to push world leaders to consider new sanctions on the Taliban when the G7 meets, sources told Reuters. Biden said he would support that effort, depending on the conduct of the Taliban.
Panicked Afghans have tried to board flights out of Kabul since last weekend, fearing reprisals and a return to a harsh version of Islamic law the Sunni Muslim group exercised while in power two decades ago.
Leaders of the Taliban, who have sought to show a more moderate face since capturing Kabul, have begun talks on forming a government.
OPPOSITION
They face opposition from forces in northern Afghanistan, which said this weekend they had taken three districts close to the Panjshir valley.
Anti-Taliban leader Ahmad Massoud said on Sunday he hoped to hold peaceful talks with the Islamist movement but that his forces in the Panjshir - remnants of army units, special forces and militiamen - were ready to fight.
"We want to make the Taliban realise that the only way forward is through negotiation," he said. "We do not want a war to break out."
The Taliban said hundreds of their fighters were heading towards Panjshir, showing a video on Twitter of a column of captured trucks with the white Taliban flag but still bearing their government markings moving along a highway.
The United States and other countries including Britain have brought in several thousand troops to help evacuate foreign citizens and at-risk Afghans from Kabul, but have been careful to avoid clashes with the Taliban.
A Taliban official said: "We are seeking complete clarity on foreign forces' exit plan".
Taliban political office spokesman Mohammed Naeem told Saudi-owned Al Hadath TV that talks are ongoing with the United States and other countries. He said al Qaeda is not present in Afghanistan and the Taliban has no relationship with it.
Afghans who fled in the past week have spoken about their despair at leaving loved ones behind. "It was very difficult to leave," a veiled woman told Reuters in Qatar. "I love my country."
The World Health Organization and U.N. children's agency UNICEF called for a humanitarian air bridge to deliver aid to Afghanistan to help more than 18 million people in need.
U.S. Army Major General William Taylor said on Saturday that the United States in the past week had evacuated 17,000 people, including 2,500 Americans, from Kabul.
On one of the flights, an Afghan woman gave birth on board moments after landing at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Saturday, the U.S. Air Force said on Twitter. The woman delivered a baby girl in the cargo bay of a C-17 aircraft. The mother and baby were in good condition, the tweet said.
Reuters
Mon Aug 23 2021
![Biden says US unwavering in Afghanistan evacuations; Taliban beat back crowd at airport Biden says US unwavering in Afghanistan evacuations; Taliban beat back crowd at airport](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-08/51629688833_taliban.jpg)
Members of Taliban forces gesture as they check a vehicle on a street in Kabul, Afghanistan, August 16, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
![Enam kerusi Bersatu: Parlimen perlu dipertanggungjawabkan - Penganalisis Enam kerusi Bersatu: Parlimen perlu dipertanggungjawabkan - Penganalisis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721087087_AgendaAWANI.jpg)
Enam kerusi Bersatu: Parlimen perlu dipertanggungjawabkan - Penganalisis
Manimaran berkata, Parlimen perlu dipertanggungjawabkan kerana menggubal undang-undang yang lompang dan lemah untuk dicabar mana-mana pihak.
Jenayah: Suspek dikait penemuan mayat Nur Farah Kartini direman hari ini
Seorang penjawat awam yang ditahan bagi membantu siasatan berhubung penemuan mayat Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah, 25 tahun, akan direman, pada pagi, hari ini.
![Kerajaan komited kekal trajektori konsolidasi fiskal - Kementerian Kewangan Kerajaan komited kekal trajektori konsolidasi fiskal - Kementerian Kewangan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-11/61635915618_economylaptop.jpg)
Kerajaan komited kekal trajektori konsolidasi fiskal - Kementerian Kewangan
Menurut MOF, defisit fiskal pada 2024 diunjur untuk terus berkurang kepada 4.3 peratus KDNK iaitu RM85.4 bilion.
Negara jimat RM10.5 bilion pelan tindakan kecekapan tenaga
Sehingga kini Negara berjaya melakukan Penjimatan tenaga kumulatif dalam tempoh pelaksanaan Pelan Tindakan Kecekapan Tenaga Negara (NEEAP) sebanyak 39,382 Gigawatt jam (GWj) bersamaan dengan RM10.5 bilion.
Kementerian Peralihan Tenaga dan Transformasi Air (PETRA) berkata Sehingga Disember 2023, kadar penjimatan tenaga tahunan yang telah dicapai adalah sebanyak 5.9 peratus atau 8,667 GWj yang bernilai lebih daripada RM2.1 bilion.
Kementerian Peralihan Tenaga dan Transformasi Air (PETRA) berkata Sehingga Disember 2023, kadar penjimatan tenaga tahunan yang telah dicapai adalah sebanyak 5.9 peratus atau 8,667 GWj yang bernilai lebih daripada RM2.1 bilion.
Peralihan tenaga, pelaburan hijau tingkat daya saing - PM
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berkata pelaksanaan peralihan tenaga dan pelaburan hijau yang lebih berkesan, teratur dan sistematik amat perlu bagi mengangkat imej, reputasi dan daya tarikan Malaysia sebagai destinasi pelaburan hijau pilihan.
Beliau berkata usaha ke atas pelan tindakan ini berkemampuan meningkatkan kedudukan daya saing negara.
Beliau berkata usaha ke atas pelan tindakan ini berkemampuan meningkatkan kedudukan daya saing negara.
![E-invois dibimbangi tekan pengusaha PKS E-invois dibimbangi tekan pengusaha PKS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-03/61616250988_PKS.jpg)
E-invois dibimbangi tekan pengusaha PKS
Isu yang timbul ialah pengetahuan dan kos tinggi yang diperlukan untuk melaksanakannya, termasuk kos latihan dan penambahbaikan sistem dan perisian.
Parlimen: Cadangan guru Bahasa Inggeris dari Singapura antara tumpuan hari ini
Cadangan kemasukan tenaga pengajar Bahasa Inggeris dari Singapura ke negara ini antara tumpuan persidangan Dewan Rakyat hari ini.
Kekejaman Zionis: Hamas, Fatah jumpa di China Julai ini
Kumpulan Hamas dan Fatah akan mengadakan rundingan perpaduan di China pada Julai ini, sebagai usaha untuk menyelesaikan perpecahan dalaman antara kedua-duanya.
Jerman, Perancis gesa siasat serangan di sekolah Abu Araban
Perancis dan Jerman menggesa agar siasatan menyeluruh dijalankan susulan 15 orang terbunuh dalam serangan terhadap sekolah di kem Nuseirat, pada Ahad lepas.
Kekejaman Zionis: Israel lancar serangan baharu, bunuh puluhan rakyat Palestin
Israel menyerang selatan dan tengah Semenanjung Gaza pada Isnin, membunuh berpuluh-puluh rakyat Palestin yang telah mencari perlindungan di kem sementara.
![Afghanistan siap sedia sambut Aidiladha meski berdepan cabaran ekonomi Afghanistan siap sedia sambut Aidiladha meski berdepan cabaran ekonomi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51718507756_afghanistandaging.jpg)
Afghanistan siap sedia sambut Aidiladha meski berdepan cabaran ekonomi
Kadar pengangguran dan kemiskinan yang tinggi mengurangkan kuasa beli rakyat Afghanistan secara drastik, menyukarkan mereka untuk melaksanakan ibadah korban.
![Tehran dakwa penjajahan asing sebagai punca utama masalah Afghanistan Tehran dakwa penjajahan asing sebagai punca utama masalah Afghanistan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/71713357385_tbAfghanwoman.jpg)
Tehran dakwa penjajahan asing sebagai punca utama masalah Afghanistan
Punca masalah dan cabaran Afghanistan ialah pendudukan negara itu sebelum ini dan kurangnya perhatian terhadap pembangunan ekonominya oleh bekas penjajah.
![Pilihan raya Pakistan: Perkhidmatan rangkaian mudah alih digantung, sempadan ditutup Pilihan raya Pakistan: Perkhidmatan rangkaian mudah alih digantung, sempadan ditutup](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/81707382428_TBgeneralelection.jpg)
Pilihan raya Pakistan: Perkhidmatan rangkaian mudah alih digantung, sempadan ditutup
Pihak berkuasa Pakistan menggantung perkhidmatan mudah alih dan menutup sempadan dengan negara jiran Afghanistan dan Iran selepas insiden pengeboman.
![150,000 wanita dan sektor kesihatan, hak tidak diabaikan - Menteri Kesihatan Awam Afghanistan 150,000 wanita dan sektor kesihatan, hak tidak diabaikan - Menteri Kesihatan Awam Afghanistan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-09/71662523236_Afghanistan.jpg)
150,000 wanita dan sektor kesihatan, hak tidak diabaikan - Menteri Kesihatan Awam Afghanistan
Seramai 150,000 wanita berkhidmat dalam sektor kesihatan Afghanistan ketika ini dengan pelbagai cabang kepakaran.
![Afghanistan ketika ini 100 peratus aman - Menteri Kesihatan Awam Afghanistan Afghanistan ketika ini 100 peratus aman - Menteri Kesihatan Awam Afghanistan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/41682072388_TBafghan.jpg)
Afghanistan ketika ini 100 peratus aman - Menteri Kesihatan Awam Afghanistan
Situasi di Afghanistan jauh lebih baik berbanding 20 tahun lalu yang menyaksikan ratusan orang maut akibat peperangan.
![Afghanistan perlu raih semula penghormatan untuk membangun - Penganalisis Afghanistan perlu raih semula penghormatan untuk membangun - Penganalisis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/71703158101_Herizal.jpg)
Afghanistan perlu raih semula penghormatan untuk membangun - Penganalisis
Afghanistan perlu memecahkan persepsi negatif terhadap negaranya dan meraih semula penghormatan komuniti antarabangsa untuk membangun.
![Genosid di Gaza hancurkan 'kredibiliti' pertubuhan dunia - Afghanistan Genosid di Gaza hancurkan 'kredibiliti' pertubuhan dunia - Afghanistan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-11/81699770973_TBAlShifahospital.jpg)
Genosid di Gaza hancurkan 'kredibiliti' pertubuhan dunia - Afghanistan
Afghanistan mengutuk sekeras-kerasnya rejim Israel itu kerana meneruskan pengeboman yang membunuh ratusan rakyat Palestin sejak jeda kemanusiaan tamat pada Jumaat.
![Gempa bumi landa barat laut Afghanistan, 100 cedera Gempa bumi landa barat laut Afghanistan, 100 cedera](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-10/51696689815_AfghanistanGempa.jpg)
Gempa bumi landa barat laut Afghanistan, 100 cedera
Sekurang-kurangnya 100 orang cedera selepas satu lagi gempa bumi kuat berukuran 6.3 pada skala Richter menggegarkan barat laut Afghanistan pada Ahad.
![80 cedera dalam gempa bumi kuat di Afghanistan 80 cedera dalam gempa bumi kuat di Afghanistan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-10/81696720086_Afghanistanearthqua.jpg)
80 cedera dalam gempa bumi kuat di Afghanistan
Menurut penduduk tempatan, kebanyakan mangsa yang cedera telah dibawa ke hospital.
![Angka kematian gempa bumi Afghanistan meningkat lebih 2,000 orang Angka kematian gempa bumi Afghanistan meningkat lebih 2,000 orang](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-10/81696720086_Afghanistanearthqua.jpg)
Angka kematian gempa bumi Afghanistan meningkat lebih 2,000 orang
Lebih 2,000 orang maut selepas beberapa gempa bumi kuat menggegarkan barat Afghanistan pada Sabtu.