FLURRY OF DIPLOMACY

The international community too is coming to terms with the new Taliban regime.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken landed on Monday in Qatar, a key player in the Afghan saga. Qatar, which hosts a major US military base, has been the gateway for 55,000 people airlifted out of Afghanistan, nearly half the total evacuated by US-led forces after the Taliban takeover on August 15.

Blinken was expected to speak to the Qataris about efforts alongside Turkey to reopen Kabul’s airport, which is necessary for flying in badly needed humanitarian aid and evacuating remaining Afghans.

The US withdrew its last troops a week ago, and ended a harrowing airlift to evacuate Western citizens and their Afghan allies that was marred by scenes of desperation and horrific violence.

During that evacuation, thousands of people descended on Kabul’s airport, hoping to flee the country because they feared what the Taliban’s rule might hold, given their history of repression, particularly of women.

In the last days of the US’s final departure on August 30, an Islamic State suicide bomber targeted the crowds, killing 169 Afghans and 13 American service members.

Many people are still hoping to leave the country, but with Kabul’s airport not yet running international flights, their choices are few.

In the country’s north, officials said on Sunday that at least four planes chartered to evacuate several hundred people have been unable to leave the country for days.

On Monday, the US confirmed its first overland extraction since it ended its air evacuation efforts.

It helped a family of four American citizens to flee through an overland route, according to an American official, who did not give details of the evacuation or say which country they went to, citing security reasons and the need to preserve the possibility of using the route again.

BLINKEN WAS EXPECTED TO SPEAK TO THE QATARIS ABOUT EFFORTS ALONGSIDE TURKEY TO REOPEN KABUL’S AIRPORT, WHICH IS NECESSARY FOR FLYING IN HUMANITARIAN AID