Afghans barred from going to Kabul airport and those trying to flee told to go home

24 August 2021, 14:27 | Updated: 24 August 2021, 14:50

People at Kabul airport are being urged to return home by the Taliban
People at Kabul airport are being urged to return home by the Taliban. Picture: Alamy

By Asher McShane

The Taliban have urged Afghan people to withdraw from Kabul airport and stop trying to flee the country, and have stopped allowing people to travel there.

In a press conference ahead of G7 talks, a spokesman for the militant group confirmed they are no longer allowing Afghan nationals to go to Kabul airport because of the chaotic situation there.

"We are not in favour of allowing Afghans to leave," the spokesman said today. Foreign nationals should leave before the deadline at the end of the month, he added.

They also called on the US not to 'encourage' highly trained doctors, engineers and the 'educated elite' to leave the country.

A spokesman said it would be a 'clear violation' if foreign forces didn't leave by the agreed deadline.

The US is to end its presence in Afghanistan after August 31.

READ MORE: Airbnb to provide free housing around the world for 20,000 Afghan refugees

READ MORE: Person on no-fly list flown to UK during Kabul evacuation, Govt confirms

Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid also said that no foreign embassies should be 'scared' of them or close their doors, saying the Taliban does not want foreign embassies to close, claiming diplomats in Afghanistan have been assured of their safety.

He added that he does not think that the 31 August deadline for evacuations from Kabul will be extended. He added that no evacuations will be permitted after the deadline.

"August 31 is the time given and after that it's something that is against the agreement," he said.

"All people should be removed prior to that date.

"After that we do not allow them, it will not be allowed in our country, we will take a different stance."

The UK has evacuated more than 8,400 people from Afghanistan as part of the rescue mission began less than two weeks ago.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Tuesday that Operation Pitting, the military evacuation that began on August 13, has so far taken 8,458 people out of Kabul.

This included people departing the Afghan capital in nine military flights over a 24-hour period.

Embassy staff, British nationals, those eligible under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) programme and a number of nationals from partner nations were included in the evacuation figure.

So far, 5,171 of the total have made claims under Arap.

More than 1,000 UK armed forces personnel have been deployed in Kabul.

The MoD said the evacuation process will run as long as the security situation allows, in coordination with the US.

No firm date has yet been set for the end of evacuation flights, it added.

The Mod said the Armed Forces have continued to fly in and distribute aid to support UK and Afghan nationals going through the evacuation process, including providing water, baby wipes and pre-made baby milk, sanitary packs, blankets and colouring books.

On Monday, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the Kabul evacuation effort is "down to hours now, not weeks" as he conceded Britain's involvement will end when the US leaves Afghanistan.

US President Biden signalled on Sunday that he did not want US armed forces to stay beyond August.

G7 leaders are due to meet virtually on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.

Armed forces minister James Heappey said on Monday that approximately 1,800 UK nationals and more than 2,200 Afghans who helped British forces were the "focus" of the Government's evacuation efforts from Afghanistan.

He added that the numbers of people that the UK wanted to evacuate from "Afghan civil society" had "grown significantly" in recent weeks, in an effort to resettle those who may face recrimination from the Taliban.

But ministers also warned the UK will not be able to get out everyone it hopes to.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Liam Payne and girlfriend Kate Cassidy attending the premiere of All Of Those Voices at Cineworld in London.

Liam Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy reveals reason she left star in Argentina

Police refuse to return stolen phone to owner because thief 'used it' and device now contained his private information

Police refuse to return stolen phone to owner because thief 'used it' and device now contained his private information

Grenfell Tower where at least 72 people died after a fire broke out on June 14th 2017 in North Kensington with the slogan 'Forever in our Hearts'.

Grenfell Tower to finally be demolished eight years after fire claimed lives of 72 people

The order is titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” Trump said.

'The war on women's sport is over': Trump signs executive order banning transgender athletes from competing

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky says any peacekeeping force for Ukraine needs American soldiers.

Zelensky warns any peacekeeping force for Ukraine without US troops would be a 'win for Russia'

Two planes collide at Seattle Airport as Japan Airlines' wing slices through tail of Delta aircraft

Two planes collide at Seattle Airport as Japan Airlines' wing slices through tail of Delta aircraft

Russia's President Vladimir Putin

Ukraine accuses Russian spies of orchestrating bomb attacks on army offices

Australian footballer Sam Kerr arrives outside the Crown Court ahead of her trial for a racial harassment case.

Chelsea striker Sam Kerr says police treated her differently due to skin colour in star's harassment trial

Sir Geoff Hurst and PH Moriarty

Tributes pour in as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels star P.H Moriarty dies aged 85

Two fires are believed to have been caused by the catastrophic failures of lithium batteries for an e-scooter and e-bike killed two dogs and gutted two homes.

Two dogs die and two homes destroyed in separate e-bike and e-scooter blazes just hours apart

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speak during a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Donald Trump insists 'everybody loves' proposal for US Gaza 'take over' - as UAE rejects idea of evicting Palestinians

Millie Evans, from Seacomb in the Wirral, was last seen in her home town at 6.40pm yesterday, according to Merseyside Police.

Fears grow for missing mum, 18, and baby daughter as police launch urgent appeal

Nigel Farage has said he finds Donald Trump's plan for the US to own Gaza "very appealing".

Nigel Farage says Donald Trump's plan to 'take over Gaza' sounds 'very appealing'

Andersson, 35, was described as a reclusive loner by relatives.

Pictured: Gunman who killed 11 in Sweden's 'worst mass shooting in history' named

MP Apsana Begum, MP Zarah Sultana and MP John McDonnell,

Four Labour MPs readmitted to party after voting against two-child benefit cap - but three remain suspended

Axel Rudakubana has been jailed for 52 years.

Southport killer’s anti-terror referral closed ‘early’ despite interest in Manchester attack & ‘wanting to stab people’