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Pentagon says Kabul not in ‘imminent threat environment’
The Afghan capital, Kabul, is not in an “imminent threat environment” despite sudden territorial gains by the Taliban across the country, a U.S. Pentagon spokesperson said on Friday.
Taliban insurgents have seized Afghanistan’s second- and third-biggest cities as resistance from government forces crumbled, stoking fears that an assault on Kabul could be just days away, Reuters reported.
“Kabul is not, right now, in an imminent threat environment. But clearly… if you just look at what the Taliban’s been doing, you can see that they are trying to isolate Kabul now,” John Kirby said.
Also on Friday, a senior U.S. defense official said there was concern that the Taliban – ousted from power by U.S-led forces in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks on the United States – could make a move on Kabul within days.
But Washington was hoping the Afghan security forces would put up more resistance as the insurgents move closer to the capital, Reuters reported.
Kirby said that the Biden administration is concerned by the speed of the Taliban advance.
“We have noted, and we have noted with great concern, the speed with which they have been moving and the lack of resistance that they have faced,” he said.
Afghan First Vice President Amrullah Saleh said after a security meeting chaired by President Ashraf Ghani that he was proud of the armed forces and the government would do all it could to strengthen the resistance to the Taliban.
The fighting has raised fears of a refugee crisis and a rollback of gains in human rights since the Taliban were ousted. Some 400,000 civilians have been forced from their homes since the beginning of the year, 250,000 of them since May, a U.N. official said.
The Pentagon said on Thursday it would send about 3,000 extra troops within 48 hours to help evacuate U.S. Embassy staff.
Pentagon spokesperson Kirby said some of those troops are already in place and the bulk of them would be, “by the end of the weekend.”
The speed of the Taliban offensive as U.S.-led foreign forces prepare to complete their withdrawal by the end of this month has led to recriminations over President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops.
Biden said this week he did not regret his decision, noting that Washington has spent more than $1 trillion in America’s longest war and lost thousands of troops.
Poland has deported three Afghan asylum seekers to Kabul despite an interim ruling by the European Court of Human Rights ordering a halt to their removal, according to Polish media reports.
The case was reported by OKO.press, which said the deportations took place earlier this month as part of a planned operation involving a group of Afghan nationals.
According to the report, Polish authorities had scheduled the deportation of nine Afghan migrants on April 10. However, the European Court issued urgent interim measures instructing Poland to suspend the deportations, citing concerns over the safety of the individuals if returned to Afghanistan.
Despite being informed of the court’s decision prior to the flight, Polish authorities proceeded with the deportation of three individuals to Kabul, while the remaining cases were halted.
Russia delivered its first batch of fortified wheat flour aid to Afghanistan during a ceremony in Mazar-i-Sharif on Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
The aid consignment forms part of Russia’s broader contribution to the World Food Programme (WFP). Russian officials say the total volume of assistance under this contribution will reach approximately 3,977 tonnes.
The handover ceremony in northern Afghanistan highlights ongoing international efforts to address food insecurity in the country, where millions remain in need of humanitarian support due to economic challenges, climate-related shocks, and prolonged instability.
The WFP, which is leading food assistance operations across Afghanistan, relies on contributions from international donors to sustain its programs.
Russia’s latest delivery adds to a series of humanitarian shipments provided to Afghanistan through multilateral channels.
Aid agencies continue to warn that sustained international support will be critical in the months ahead, as many Afghan families struggle to secure basic food supplies.
Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC) has donated thousands of ornamental and non-fruit-bearing saplings to the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) as part of efforts to promote greenery and improve the country’s environment.
NEPA officials said the saplings will be planted at new terminals of the Ministry of Transport, at several government offices, and across parts of Kabul to enhance urban greenery and environmental quality.
The agency welcomed the contribution and called on other private sector entities to support environmental initiatives and urban greening efforts.
Afghan Wireless officials said the company, in coordination with NEPA and municipal authorities, plans to continue tree-planting campaigns in Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, and Kunduz.
Mohammad Khan Yaqoubi, legal adviser to AWCC, said the company also intends to expand cooperation this year in Kabul, Kandahar, Bamyan, and Herat alongside environmental authorities and Kabul Municipality.
NEPA officials urged citizens to take part in efforts to develop and protect the country’s environment, emphasizing the importance of preserving a greener Afghanistan for future generations.
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