After the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban rise to power, Kabul airport went into crisis mode in mid-August 2021 as hundreds tried to flee the country and scenes of refugees trying to climb the wings of US military aircrafts as they took off from Afghanistan flooded the news media.
The Kabul airport crisis was a worrying event, and many countries expressed concerns emphasizing the need to continue evacuation from Afghanistan. How did the world see the Kabul airport operation crisis and how did it comment?
1. The United States of America confirms the continuation of evacuation
There were many statements by the US during the Kabul airport crisis stressing on continuing evacuation efforts meanwhile working hard to secure the airport.
Emphasis on evacuation efforts
Several US officials stressed that the main effort of the US is focused on resuming the evacuation from Afghanistan, indicating that their country will seek to provide all possible means to get the mission done, and the US State Department spokesperson Ned Price confirmed that Washington continues to support all efforts to restart the airport.
Along the same lines, the White House spokesperson Jennifer Psaki highlighted Washington’s diplomatic efforts to evacuate other Afghan who qualify for various visa programs.
For its part, the US government activated the Civilian Reserve Air Fleet measure that forces commercial airlines to support the US evacuation from Afghanistan.
The Pentagon stated that 18 aircraft from six American airlines will take part in this operation, and their main destination will not be Kabul, but rather will be used mainly to transport evacuees from their initial destinations, such as Germany and Qatar, and that this will make room for American military aircraft to focus on the air transportation of personnel from Kabul.
Communication and coordination
US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland confirmed that the US has conducted extensive contact with the Taliban, aiming to complete evacuation from Afghanistan. The Biden administration expected the Taliban to keep providing safe passage for Americans and other nationals to leave the country, but expressed concerns about how it would enable them to leave in the absence of a functioning airport.
The White House stated in a tweet on X, formerly Twitter, that there is no specific deadline for Americans who wish to leave, and that the Secretary of State will lead the coordination process with international partners to ensure the safe passage of any Americans, Afghan partners, or foreign nationals who wish to leave Afghanistan.
Security efforts to deal with the Kabul Airport crisis
On the other hand, US officials underlined the difficult situation and the security danger, as US Central Command spokesperson Robert Ludwig described the security situation at Kabul Airport as bad, and pointed out that there are two thousand members of the US forces guarding Kabul Airport.
This was confirmed by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who described the situation in Kabul as very volatile, and indicated the presence of large crowds approaching the airport resulting in severe crowding and exposing these people to danger. The US, Blinken added, is in contact with the Americans and others to help guide them in dealing with the situation.
The US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated that his country will maintain the security of Kabul airport, and will look into all possible means to deliver Americans to the airport and out of Afghanistan.
2. Turkey proposes solutions to manage conditions at Kabul Airport
Turkey focused on providing solutions related to the situation in Kabul airport, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan affirmed his country’s endeavor to maintain security at Kabul airport adding that his country is drawing up plans according to the facts and conditions there, and that his government is ready for all forms of cooperation to ensure the well-being of the Afghan people and the safety of the Turks in Afghanistan.
According to Erdogan, Turkey had held talks with the Taliban and offered to manage the airport. Indeed, Turkey, which had 600 soldiers in Afghanistan for the security of Kabul international airport, proposed continuing to manage and protect the airport after the US full withdrawal.
Turkish FM Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu also stressed that security inside and outside the airport is the top priority, and that repairs must be done in the airport before it can be reopened for civilian flights.
3. UK underlines restarting the airport
UK’s Secretary of State Dominic Raab said that the re-operation of Kabul airport is vital for London to complete evacuation of 17,000 people and to ensure that the British nationals who remained in Kabul could flee to the UK whenever they decide. Raab explained that this is why his country is following with great interest what can be done for Kabul airport.
In the same vein, the British Foreign Office spokesperson pointed out that despite the difficult conditions on the ground, they are doing their best to manage the situation safely.
4. The Taliban proclaims ability to manage the Airport
The Taliban proclaimed the ability to manage Kabul airport and deal with the critical situation, and its spokesperson said that assuming the airport management is not a big issue and that the Taliban has the experience in governance.
Another Taliban official added that the organization is seeking a clear plan for the foreign forces’ way out from the country explaining that dealing with the chaos outside Kabul airport is a complex task.
5. France cooperates with America
France cooperated with the US to deal with the crisis. Whilst visiting Ireland, French President Emmanuel Macron pledged that his country would work with its American allies in close coordination on the issues of the near future including military cooperation, migration issues, and cooperation with the UN Security Council.
6. Germany looks for new exit options
Germany’s top diplomat Heiko Maas stated that although the military evacuation process has been finished, his country will go an extra mile to create new exit options, whether through civilian flights or through land routes to neighboring countries, with the aim of empowering the local workers and people at risk.
7. Canada highlights its efforts
Acting Canadian Chief of Defense Staff, General Wayne Eyre, said that his country remained in Afghanistan for as long as possible, and that Canada was among the last to stop evacuation. He stressed that his country had hoped to stay longer and save more people, but they were unable to do so due to the rapidly deteriorating conditions on the ground.
8. The UN Security Council calls on the Taliban to ensure safe exit
The UN Security Council adopted a resolution calling on the Taliban to ensure safe exit for Afghans who wish to leave the country. The resolution affirmed that the UNSC expects the Taliban to fulfill its obligations regarding the safe and orderly departure of Afghan citizens and foreign nationals after the US military pullout.
Richard Gowan, a UN specialist at the International Crisis Group, believed that the decision signaled a message to the Taliban on the need to keep the airport open and help the UN deliver aid.
9. The Afghan Aviation Authority requests assistance from Qatar
The Afghan Aviation Authority said it will request assistance from Qatar in air transport, and that it is ready to conclude partnership agreements with it. The Afghan side added that the Qatari technical crew is assessing the damage to Kabul airport and is developing its plan to restart it as soon as possible.
Qatar played a key role in resolving the crisis in Kabul airport, being the link between all parts and working with the Taliban government to restart the airport.
On September 4, 2021, domestic flights were restarted again crowning the repair efforts made by the Qatari technical team, and later on September 9, international flights were in operation again.
