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Approximately 100 American citizens remain in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of US troops, said White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain, “many of them want to stay.”
When appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Klain said the US government was in contact with “everything” of Americans who were “regularly” identified and still in the country.
“We believe it’s about 100,” Klain said. “Obviously, we expect Qatar to resume air service from Kabul in the next few days. If so, we will obviously see if Americans can take those flights. intend to.”
“We’re going to find a way to get people out of Afghanistan who want to leave,” he told host Dana Bash. “We know that many of them have families, many of them want to stay, but those who want to leave, we’re going to take them out.”
Klein added that the Biden administration is also working to evacuate additional Afghan allies on a special immigrant visa (SIV). The SIV program was created to protect Afghanistan’s allies who endangered their lives in support of the US military in Afghanistan.
Earlier on Friday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the ministry was “in constant contact” with US citizens still in Afghanistan.
“Most of the remaining American citizens are dual citizens based in Afghanistan and where extended families live. Therefore, deciding whether to leave what they call their hometown is a dire decision. It’s not surprising that there is, “he said.
Klein’s remarks are made almost a week after the United States withdraws all US troops from the country in time for President Joe Biden’s voluntary August 31 deadline. Immediately after the last US military aircraft departed from Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan, the Pentagon said “hundreds” of Americans seeking evacuation were left in Afghanistan.
Biden vowed to keep US troops in the country in early August until all Americans who wanted to leave were evacuated.
Biden told ABC News George Stephanopoulos in an interview on August 18 that the purpose of the U.S. military in Afghanistan was to drive out “everyone,” including Americans and Afghan allies and their families.
Meanwhile, Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) Said Fox News said on Sunday that a Taliban terrorist group that seized control of Kabul on August 15 was blocking six planes carrying Americans and Afghanistan from leaving Mazar-i-Sharif Airport in Afghanistan. I reported.
The Taliban “takes them hostage for demand,” he said, and the State Department said, “We will clear these flights and the Taliban will not let them leave the airport.”
A top Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee did not elaborate on the Taliban’s demands, but he said it was “changing into a hostage situation,” and terrorist groups said, “American citizens leave until they are full. I wouldn’t allow that, “approved from the United States. “
The Epoch Times is seeking comment from the Biden administration and the State Department.
Isabelle van Brugen
Reporter
Isabel van Brugen is an award-winning journalist and currently a news reporter for The Epoch Times. She holds a master’s degree in newspaper journalism from City, University of London.
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