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US troops arrive in Kabul to assist with evacuations
American troops have flown into Kabul to help evacuate embassy personnel and other civilians in the Afghan capital, a U.S. official said on Saturday, a day after Taliban insurgents seized the country’s second- and third-biggest cities.
The Pentagon has said two battalions of Marines and one infantry battalion will arrive in Kabul by Sunday evening, involving about 3,000 troops.
“They have arrived, their arrival will continue ’til tomorrow,” the U.S. official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
An infantry brigade combat team will also move out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Kuwait to act as a quick reaction force for security in Kabul if needed, the Pentagon has said.
Britain and several other Western nations are also sending troops as resistance from Afghan government forces crumbles and fears grow that an assault on Kabul could be just days away, Reuters reported.
An Afghan government official confirmed on Friday that Kandahar, the economic hub of the south, was under Taliban control as U.S.-led international forces complete their withdrawal after 20 years of war.
A U.S. defence official said there was concern that the Taliban – ousted from power in 2001 after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States – could make a move on Kabul within days, Reuters reported.
“Kabul is not right now in an imminent threat environment, but clearly … if you just look at what the Taliban has been doing, you can see that they are trying to isolate Kabul,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.
Some embassies have begun to burn sensitive material ahead of evacuating, diplomats said.
The U.S. embassy in the Afghan capital informed staff that burn bins and an incinerator were available to destroy material including papers and electronic devices to “reduce the amount of sensitive material on the property,” according to an advisory seen by Reuters.
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Escalating violence in Pashtun regions during Ramadan raises concerns
He described these incidents as grave violations of international law and acts that have deepened fears among affected communities.
Amid the holy month of Ramadan, violence has continued in several Pashtun areas, raising serious concerns among local communities.
In a post in X, Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen, the founder and head of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, noted that in Tirah, four Pashtun civilians were reportedly killed and six others injured during operations carried out by the Pakistani army. Protests that followed in Orakzai were also met with force, leaving four more individuals seeking peace and justice injured.
In Afghanistan’s Behsud district, 17 civilians, including women and children, were reportedly killed in airstrikes attributed to Pakistani forces, he stated.
He described these incidents as grave violations of international law and acts that have deepened fears among affected communities.
In recent days, additional casualties have been reported in Rozmak, Shawal (North Waziristan), Mubarak Shahi village (Mir Ali), Speen Wam, Abakhel village, Dosali, Takhte Khel (Lakki Marwat), Azam Warsak (South Waziristan), Bajaur, and Bannu, where clashes between security forces and armed groups have resulted in deaths and injuries among civilians, Pashteen said.
He stated that the ongoing violence reflects longstanding grievances in Pashtun regions. The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) has stated that it will continue to oppose what it describes as injustices against Pashtun communities and will stand in solidarity with those affected.
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UNAMA reports civilian casualties from Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan
UNAMA urged all parties to end hostilities, protect civilians, and uphold international law principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution to prevent further civilian harm.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has confirmed credible reports of civilian casualties following overnight Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan on 21–22 February.
Airstrikes in Behsud and Khogyani districts of Nangarhar province, carried out between approximately 23:45 on 21 February and 00:15 on 22 February, have reportedly killed at least 13 civilians and injured seven others, including women and children.
Pakistani forces also struck Barmal and Urgun districts in Paktika province.
In Barmal’s Marghai area, an airstrike on 21 February around 23:15 hit a madrassa and partially damaged a nearby mosque.
In Urgun’s Dahna area, an airstrike at approximately 23:30 partially destroyed a vacant private residence. No civilian casualties have been reported from these strikes.
UNAMA urged all parties to end hostilities, protect civilians, and uphold international law principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution to prevent further civilian harm.
The Ministry of Education reported the tragic losses, highlighting the impact of strikes on civilians and students in the region.
Education Ministry spokesman Mansoor Ahmad Hamza also said that a student at a religious seminary was injured in Barmal district of Paktika province, another area affected by the Pakistani military attacks over the weekend.
Dozens of civilians have reportedly been killed or injured in the airstrikes, which Afghan authorities say targeted residential homes and community areas in both Nangarhar and Paktika provinces.
Local sources describe scenes of devastation, with families searching through rubble and emergency personnel rushing to rescue trapped individuals.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of National Defense condemned the strikes, saying they constitute a violation of Afghan sovereignty and have caused significant civilian harm.
Officials reiterated that Afghan territory must not be used for attacks against other countries and called for restraint and dialogue to prevent further escalation.
The strikes come amid ongoing tensions along the disputed Durand Line between Afghanistan and Pakistan, where security concerns and accusations of militancy have frequently strained relations between Kabul and Islamabad. Analysts note that repeated civilian casualties risk further inflaming regional tensions and complicating diplomatic efforts to reduce violence along the frontier.
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