As countries scramble to evacuate workers and citizens from Kabul, the United States has said it intends to airlift thousands of people a day out of the Afghan capital ahead of the rapid advance of Taliban militants.
This week, Taliban seized the country’s second-largest city, Kandahar, and the nearby city of Lashkar Gah, as well as Herat in the west. On Friday, they captured Pul-e-Alam, capital of Loghar province, just 80km from the capital. They now control about a third of Afghanistan’s provincial capitals, according to the BBC.
The first of some 3 000 US troops were flying to Kabul this weekend to oversee the evacuation of diplomats and citizens. The UK, which is sending 600 troops to aid the evacuation of British nationals and former Afghan staff, said staffing at its embassy would be reduced to an absolute minimum – as did Germany. Denmark and Norway are closing their embassies altogether.
The BBC reports that the latest US intelligence assessment suggests the militants could try to advance on the national capital within 30 days.
The US embassy in Kabul told staff that an incinerator and other tools were available to destroy sensitive material, including documents and equipment such as flags that could be used in propaganda.
The Taliban advance comes as US and other foreign troops withdraw after 20 years of military operations. The BBC says the fighting has raised fears that gains in human rights made since the militants were ousted from power in 2001 could be swiftly reversed.
Life under the Taliban in the 1990s saw women forced to wear the all-covering burka, education restricted for girls over 10, and brutal punishments including public executions.
More than 250,000 people have been forced to leave their homes so far.
Makeshift camps have been established on scrubland on the outskirts of the capital, while many of those seeking safety in Kabul have been sleeping on the streets. About 72 000 children are among those fleeing to the capital in recent days, according to Save the Children.