U.S. warns of security threats at Kabul airport as Taliban leaders arrive to form new government.
American citizens trying to leave Afghanistan were advised not to travel to Kabul’s airport because of “potential security threats,” on Saturday, as senior Taliban leaders arrived in the city to choose a new government.
“We are advising U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to the airport and to avoid airport gates at this time unless you receive individual instructions from a U.S. government representative to do so,” the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan said in a statement Saturday.
The advice was issued “because of potential security threats,” the statement said although it did not elaborate on what those threats were. “We will contact registered U.S. citizens as the security situation changes to provide further instructions,” the statement added.
It came less than than 24 hours after President Joe Biden vowed to get Americans home, and help Afghans who’d assisted U.S. forces in the country and others who might be in danger.