Taliban: "Airport Is Beyond Our Control... US Has Not Implemented Security Measures"

On the 26th (local time), citizens injured in a series of suicide bombings outside Kabul Airport, the capital of Afghanistan, were moved to a nearby hospital and lie on beds. After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan on the 15th, two suicide bombings occurred at Kabul Airport, where Western evacuation operations are underway. The confirmed death toll has reached 90, including 13 U.S. soldiers.
[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The Taliban stated on the 26th (local time) that the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, where a series of bombings occurred, is beyond their control, according to Russia's Sputnik News on the same day.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesperson for the Taliban, responded to a question about what measures the Taliban would take to secure the airport by saying, "Unfortunately, the airport is beyond the Taliban's control."

He added, "The security responsibility for the area adjacent to the airport lies with the Americans, and we are not there," while also stating, "The areas around the airport and where our forces are present are safe."

Another Taliban spokesperson, Mohammad Naeem, also indicated in an interview with Al Jazeera that the responsibility for airport security lies with the United States. Spokesperson Naeem claimed, "We warned the foreign troops about the impact when large crowds gathered at Kabul airport," and "there were no appropriate security measures taken in this regard."

A series of bombings occurred at Kabul airport, where the United States and other Western countries are conducting evacuation operations, resulting in hundreds of casualties. The Islamic State's Afghanistan branch, IS-K, which is hostile to the Taliban, was identified as the perpetrator, and IS also claimed responsibility for the attack.

Meanwhile, Taliban spokesperson Mujahid expressed the intention to allow civilians to leave Afghanistan even after the 31st.

When asked whether civilian evacuations would be permitted after the 31st, he replied, "If circumstances allow, we will," adding, "There is no problem regarding civilians."

However, Mujahid emphasized that the U.S. military must complete its withdrawal as scheduled on the 31st. He said, "We demand that the Americans withdraw by the set date," and "There are no plans to extend the period of American presence in Afghanistan."

Mujahid reiterated his appeal to Afghans not to leave the country, adding, "The United States should not take peaceful Afghans away or force them to leave their homeland."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.