“We are Americans and you, Afghans, are not a … ..” would have said Alberto Sordi in the face of the drama of the thousands of people who have tried, in these two days, in every way to enter any object that was shaped by plane. Unfortunately there is nothing to laugh about because the situation in Kabul is dramatic especially for all those who, for twenty years, have worked alongside the occupying troops.
However, Washington has currently no plans to help them get out of the country. John Kirby, spokesman for the Pentagon, has in fact confirmed that there is no intention, let alone plan, to help Afghan collaborators of Americans from other parts of the country to reach the terminal.
Thousands of drivers, interpreters and workers of various kinds will thus remain at the mercy of the Taliban vendettas which, it seems, have already begun.
“The United States has an obligation to help these people and their families, but now the government is committed to airport security,” Kirby said.
The Pentagon is convinced that there are still between 5,000 and 10,000 Americans who are “near Kabul.” Plans call for the evacuation of the American colony first and then, when possible, the several thousand Afghan collaborators. A total of about 30,000 people.
Now Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport is open and flights, including civilian ones, can land and take off.
3,500 US soldiers are deployed at the airfield and more than 700 people were repatriated on Monday, including 150 Americans.
According to the Pentagon, repatriation flights will continue until August 31st. With the support of other troops (up to a total of 7000) in the next 24 we should arrive at a flight every 60 minutes.
The direct open line between the United States and the Taliban seems to be working at the moment. Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor, confirmed the existence of this direct line: “The Taliban are willing to allow safe access for civilians to the airport and we will ensure that they fulfill their promises. “.
What about the stranded Afghans?
According to the Pentagon spokesman, they must process their visas and consult with the State Department. Translated “forget to get it quickly and try to hide as quickly as possible”.
It is clear that, despite the existence of a visa program created in 2008 to allow them to regularly enter the United States, Afghan collaborators face an uncertain and dramatic future.
The procedures for obtaining one of these visas can take up to three years. At the moment, 20,000 have been made.
US President Joe Biden among many politically “shaky” statements said that Afghan civilians were not evacuated earlier because “some did not want to leave” and the Kabul government discouraged Washington, fearing that the mass exodus could to trigger “a crisis of confidence” in the country.
About 2,000 Afghans, the lucky ones, have already been transferred to three US military complexes. They will be joined by another 22,000, while another 8,000 will land in a third country. Albania – a member of NATO -, Kosovo (very grateful to the United States for its support during the war and subsequent independence) and North Macedonia have offered to host an unspecified number. At least they are doing something.