KABUL: The new Taliban government has agreed Thursday to let some 200 Americans and other foreigners be evacuated from Afghanistan on charter flights from Kabul, a United States official said.
The departures will be among the first international flights to take off from Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport since the insurgent group seized the capital in mid-August, triggering the chaotic U.S.-led evacuation of 124,000 foreigners and at-risk Afghans.
The move comes two days after the Taliban announced an interim government made up mainly of ethnic Pashtun men, including wanted terror suspects, dashing international hopes for a more moderate administration. The Taliban were pressed to allow the departures by U.S. Special Rep. Zalmay Khalilzad, a U.S. official said, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity.
The official could not say whether the American civilians and other foreign nationals were among people stranded for days in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif because their private charters had not been allowed to depart.
The Taliban’s announcement of a new government Tuesday was widely seen as a signal they were not looking to broaden their base and present a more tolerant face to the world, as they had suggested they would do before their military takeover.
Foreign countries greeted the interim government with caution and dismay on Wednesday. In Kabul, dozens of women took to the streets in protest. Many critics called on the leadership to respect basic human rights and revive the economy, which faces collapse amid steep inflation, food shortages and the prospect of foreign aid being slashed as countries seek to isolate the Taliban.
White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said no one in the Biden administration “would suggest that the Taliban are respected and valued members of the global community.”
The European Union voiced its disapproval at the appointments, but said it was ready to continue humanitarian assistance. Longer-term aid would depend on the Taliban upholding basic freedoms. Saudi Arabia expressed hope the new government would help Afghanistan achieve “security and stability, rejecting violence and extremism.” Analysts said the makeup of the cabinet could hamper recognition by Western governments, which will be vital for broader economic engagement.
The new acting Cabinet includes former detainees of the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, while the interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, is wanted by the U.S. on terrorism charges and carries a reward of $10 million. –Agencies
