Pentagon correspondent Jeff Schogol of Task & Function published video on Thursday of the impenetrable “gauntlet” of checkpoints the Taliban has actually developed around Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.
Schogol reported the Taliban is blocking Afghan residents with proper travel credentials from reaching the airport, rendering U.S. military control of the runways moot.
An Afghan guy sent me this video which he stated was raked outside Kabul airport today. How are Americans and Afghans expected to make it through this? pic.twitter.com/PjRTvof5p5
— Jeff Schogol (@JeffSchogol) August 19, 2021
The Taliban prevented properly credentialed Afghans from entering Hamid Karzai International Airport through the East Gate today.
— Jeff Schogol (@JeffSchogol) August 19, 2021
U.S.A. Today posted a viral video revealing shooting and turmoil outside the airport:
Significant video shows the mayhem near the airport in Kabul as individuals attempt to run away the nation. pic.twitter.com/wRYOYl9IDp
— U.S.A. TODAY (@USATODAY) August 19, 2021
CNN reporter Clarissa Ward on Wednesday made a similar assessment. Ward said it was “impossible for an ordinary civilian, even if they had their documents” to reach the airport.
The terrified crowds gathered around the airport are supposedly another barrier for evacuees to overcome, as a number of reporters informed the UK Daily Mail on Thursday:
Former British Marine [Paul] Farthing informed MailOnline: ‘2 expats– one British and one Norwegian– have actually already been required to turn back today since they can’t get through.
‘And last night a UN convoy bring various foreign nationals, who had actually been working in Afghanistan for NGOs, needed to turn round due to the fact that of the sheer volume of people on the street.’
An Afghan-Australian trying to leave the country also told ABC it is ‘not possible’ to get to the airport since there is ‘lots of shooting’ and ‘too many individuals’ while Max Sangeen, a Canadian interpreter, stated his better half and kids– consisting of a 20-day-old infant– are caught in Kabul in spite of having the proper documents.
A U.S. citizen trapped in Kabul similarly informed Fox News on Wednesday that he was not able to reach the airport due to the substantial crowds outside.
The Biden White House firmly insisted up until Thursday that it anticipated the Taliban to supply safe passage to the airport. The administration’s message changed Thursday when Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin admitted U.S. forces can do absolutely nothing to assist evacuees get past the Taliban’s checkpoints.
At the very same instruction, Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Personnel, said the U.S. State Department is “working with the Taliban to help with safe passage of American citizens and U.S. passport holders to the airport.”
When a press reporter specifically mentioned reports of the Taliban blocking access to the airport, Austin stated the Biden administration will continue its efforts to “deconflict” with the extremists.
A personal United Nations risk evaluation seen by the New York Times on Wednesday cautioned that in spite of its public promises of amnesty, the Taliban has a “list of individuals they wished to question and penalize” who worked with the U.S., NATO, or the deposed civilian federal government.
Taliban forces are going door-to-door seeking these individuals and taking their households captive. So, there is reason to believe they would not permit their targets to fly out of the nation.