Scenes of utter chaos and mayhem were witnessed at Kabul Airport on Monday morning as hundreds of Afghans rushed to the airport in desperation to flee the country.
On Sunday afternoon, the Taliban took control of Kabul in what is dubbed as the peaceful transfer of power. The Taliban forces dislodged the Afghan government with senior officials of the government fleeing the country. Fear and panic gripped the civilians and foreign nationals who rushed to the airport to flee the country.
Desperate scenes of Afghan nationals trying to board the planes were shared on social media. With no security present at the airport, civilians have rushed to the runway and surrounded the aircraft.
Read more: ‘Taliban’s victory’: Ashraf Ghani claims he had to leave Afghanistan to avoid massacre
The sheer helplessness at Kabul airport. It’s heartbreaking! #KabulHasFallen pic.twitter.com/brA3WRdPp8
— Ahmer Khan (@ahmermkhan) August 16, 2021
Desperate situation unfolding at #Kabul airport this morning. https://t.co/JlAWtTHPBy
— Ahmer Khan (@ahmermkhan) August 16, 2021
The civilians have stormed the airport and are running to board any flight in desperation to fly out of the country. They are even seen running after the moving aircraft. Many Afghans tried to jump in on the special planes sent by the USA to evacuate its diplomatic staff.
Pakistan International Airline (PIA) is already running special flights to evacuate and bring back citizens to Pakistan.
Read more: America’s Shameful Surrender In Afghanistan – Andrew Korybko
US forces fire gunshots at Kabul airport
Reportedly three to five people have been killed by gunfire shots on Monday morning at the passenger terminal of Kabul International Airport. The incident happened after US forces took over the security of the airport. They fired to disperse the crowd that reportedly killed five Afghans. “The crowd was out of control,” a US official said told Reuters by phone. “The firing was only done to defuse the chaos.”
#Afghanistan: Total chaos and helplessness at Kabul airport this morning (August 16).https://t.co/16nHRO0RCY
— Ahmer Khan (@ahmermkhan) August 16, 2021
On Sunday, 15th August 2021, The Taliban swept into Kabul and seized control of the Presidential Palace. Kabul’s government under President Ashraf Ghani largely collapsed, ceding power to the Taliban to “avoid bloodshed”.
Kabul Airport this this morning. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/9jEGgtT3w8
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) August 16, 2021
Ghani fled to neighboring Tajikistan and is likely to enter a third country. The Taliban have formally announced the “Islamic State of Afghanistan” from within the Presidential Palace. Suhail Shaheen, the spokesperson for Taliban said that soon they would announce the formation of an “open, inclusive Islamic government.”