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- On Sunday, a US drone strike killed a suicide car bomber who Pentagon officials said was planning an attack at Kabul airport
- The strike targeted suspected militants from ISIS-K, a local affiliate of Islamic State and a sworn enemy of both the West and the Taliban
- Over the past two weeks, the United States and its allies have rescued around 114,400 people from the country
- However, tens of thousands will remain as prices for basic goods soar and the Afghan currency continues to drop
- Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group will announce a full Cabinet in the coming days
On Sunday, a US drone strike killed a suicide car bomber who Pentagon officials said was planning an attack at Kabul airport as American forces wind up their withdrawal from Afghanistan.
It was the second strike by the US military since an Islamic State bomber killed 13 US troops and dozens of others on Thursday last week.
Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport has been the scene of a massive airlift by Western forces attempting to evacuate their citizens and at-risk Afghans ahead of US President Joe Biden’s exit deadline on August 31.
Officials said the strike targeted suspected militants from ISIS-K, a local affiliate of Islamic State and a sworn enemy of both the West and the Taliban, which seized control of Afghanistan on August 15 after a lightning-quick advance.
US Central Command confirmed the strike and said it was investigating reports of civilian casualties.
“We know that there were substantial and powerful subsequent explosions resulting from the destruction of the vehicle, indicating a large amount of explosive material inside that may have caused additional casualties,” it said.
“It is unclear what may have happened and we are investigating further.”
Mr Biden warned on Saturday that the situation in Kabul remained extremely dangerous and that his military chiefs had said another militant attack was highly likely within the next 24 to 36 hours.
Other officials said they were particularly concerned about ISIS-K attacking the airport as American troops departed, especially the threat from rockets and vehicle-borne explosives.
Over the past two weeks, the US and its allies have rescued around 114,400 people from the country, but tens of thousands still looking to escape will be left behind.
“We tried every option because our lives are in danger. They (the Americans or foreign powers) must show us a way to be saved,” one woman outside the airport said.
“We should leave Afghanistan or they should provide a safe place for us.”
The collapse of the Afghan government has led to an administrative vacuum, which has in turn led to fears of an economic crisis and widespread hunger. Prices for basic commodities such as flour, oil and rice are soaring as the local currency plunges. Some money changers in Pakistan have already started refusing to accept the afghani.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group would announce a full Cabinet in the coming days and that the recent difficulties would quickly subside once the new administration was up and running.
But with its economy shattered by two decades of war, Afghanistan is now facing the end of billions of dollars in foreign aid from Western donors. The Taliban has appealed to the US and other countries to maintain diplomatic relations, but Britain said that should only be the case if the group allowed safe passage for those who wanted to leave.
