The US could possibly move several thousands of Afghans who worked with American forces to Qatar, amid the Taliban's seizure of the country, CNN reported, citing an unnamed official from the State Department.
The source said that a possible agreement is still under discussion, but if it is approved, roughly 8,000 Afghanistan citizens would be moved to Qatar’s capital of Doha.
"We are evaluating all available options. We have no announcements to make on third-country relocation sites for Afghan SIV applicants," the source said.
In addition, Canada announced that it is preparing to launch a "special immigration program to welcome over 20,000 vulnerable Afghan refugees, in total."
Earlier in the week, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said that 1,000 American military members from a joint Army-Air Force support team were sent to Qatar to assist local authorities in accepting Afghan applicants with immigration visas.
The current US administration started the evacuation of its troops in May and pledged to conclude the withdrawal by the end of August. With the departure of the American military, the Taliban started a massive attack on Afghan government forces. As of 14 August, the terrorist organization controls over two thirds of the country’s territory.
--
GR
FR
DE
ES
IT
RU
EU
Taliban fighters have edged closer to the Afghan capital Kabul, as their rapid advance shows no sign of slowing.
ReplyDeleteFighting has been reported in Maidan Shar, 40km (25 miles) from the capital, and in Mazar-e-Sharif, the only major city in the north still under government control.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani says he is holding intensive talks with regional and international allies.
More than a quarter of a million people have been displaced by the violence.
With much of the country in Taliban hands many of those fleeing have headed towards Kabul in the hope of finding safety.
Women in areas captured by the Taliban described being forced to wear burkas and the militants are also reported to have beaten and lashed people for breaking social rules.