Topline
According to Reuters, Taliban authorities have reportedly offered to let 200 U.S. civilians and other foreign nationals who are still in Afghanistan leave the country. This is a week after U.S troops and government officials had completed their evacuation operations from Afghanistan.
As passengers arrive from Kandahar at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul (Afghanistan), a Taliban soldier guards them. ASSOCIATED PRNS
The Key Facts
According to Reuters, the American citizens and foreign nationals will be leaving Afghanistan on Thursday via charter flights departing from Kabul Airport. After being pressured by Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. Special Representative for peace negotiations with the Taliban, the Taliban agreed to allow departures.
Important Background
Rep. Michael McCaul, a Republican from Texas, told Fox News on Sunday that the Taliban had blocked half a dozen flights with American citizens, permanent residents, and Afghan interpreters from leaving Afghanistan. McCaul suggested that the Taliban militant group was holding the flight hostage pending Washington's recognition of the Taliban government. According to the New York Times the situation resulted in around 1,000 people, including several U.S. citizens who were visa holders, being held hostage in Mazar-i-Sharif. It is not clear if those who remain in the city's northern part are U.S citizens or foreign nationals allowed to travel via Kabul.
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Official: U.S. to Allow 200 Americans and Other Civilians to Leave Afghanistan - Taliban
Top House Republican Says Taliban Have 6 Planes with Americans, Afghans Held hostage (Forbes).
