Daily life in Kabul after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. (Photo by Haroon Sabawoon/Anadolu Agency, Getty Images)
A NATO official said on Sunday that at least 20 people had died inside and outside the Kabul airport in the past seven days during the evacuation of the Taliban insurgents after they occupied the Afghan capital last week.
“The crisis outside Kabul Airport is regrettable. Our focus is to evacuate all foreigners as soon as possible,” the official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters.
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In the past week, the crowd at the airport has increased every day, which has hindered the efforts of the United States and other countries to evacuate thousands of diplomats and civilians, as well as many Afghans.
The NATO official added:
Our troops maintain a strict distance from the outlying areas of Kabul Airport to prevent any conflict with the Taliban.
The rapid takeover of the Taliban triggered fear of retaliation and triggered a return to the harsh Sharia law imposed by Sunni Muslim organizations when they took power two decades ago.
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