Taliban says Afghans shouldn't leave Afghanistan and warn against extending the evacuation deadline

At the press conference in Kabul, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid urged Afghans to 'return to their homes and resume their calm everyday lives' [Hoshang Hashimi/AFP] | CTM USING THIS PHOTO FOR NEWS REPORT AS FAIR USE

The Taliban on Tuesday said Afghans should not leave Afghanistan. Speaking at a press conference in the capital Kabul on Tuesday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid also said the group would not approve an extension, and told the US to stop evacuating skilled Afghans.

“We are sending a message to the Americans again to evacuate their citizens by Aug. 31 because they have the means to do so, they have planes and the airport is with them and they have to transfer all the forces and contractors who have relation [sic] with foreigners,” Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, told reporters during a press conference in Kabul.

“We are not in favor of allowing Afghans to leave—won’t allow them—and after that, we will not allow Americans to be here and we will take a serious position, God willing,” Zabihullah Mujahid added.

According to the Biden Administration, About 50,000 foreigners and Afghans have fled the country from Kabul’s airport since the Taliban swept into power nine days ago,

The United States military is committed to getting any Americans who want to leave Afghanistan out before the deadline, he said, adding, “We believe that we have the capability, the ability to get that done by the end of the month.” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Washington

24 August 2021