CBS News reports that multiple flights are being thwarted by the Taliban from departing from Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan.
A State Department email to congressmen, viewed by CBS, acknowledged that charter flights were still on the ground at Mazar-i-Sharif's airstrip. It also stated that they have permission to land in Doha "if the Taliban agrees" 2/ Ruffini (@EenaRuffini) September 5, 2021
Two planes were ready to evacuate 600-1,000 people in Afghanistan, according to an NGO. The U.S government and Taliban are still talking, however.
While the White House and State Department maintain that they have leverage over Taliban, which will ensure that the group cooperates and allows people to leave Afghanistan, a senior congressional source said to CBS News that Taliban are actually holding planes "hostage" in order to "get more from Americans."
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Tex. The ranking Republican on House Foreign Affairs Committee agrees with him. On Sunday's Fox News Sunday edition, he told Chris Wallace that he is concerned that Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, will leave the talks and recommend that the Biden administration recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan's legitimate government. However, there are no signs that this will happen.
. @RepMcCaul tells Chris Wallace there are Americans being held hostage by the Taliban on six planes in Afghanistan right now pic.twitter.com/lgEY6SOPFn Pat Ward (@WardDPatrick) September 5, 2021
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