Afghanistan disaster: Day after the autumn, fearful, determined Afghans swarm Kabul airport in bid to flee Taliban rule

NOTHING ILLUSTRATED extra powerfully Kabul’s fast descent to chaos than the chilling scenes from the Hamid Karzai International Airport that performed out on screens the world over Monday.
They confirmed crowds surging to the tarmac in a determined bid to flee with gunfire echoing within the background, lots of them scrambling up a ladder to board a parked aircraft, a number of working alongside an American army plane taxiing for takeoff, some clambering on to its wheels —and at the very least two spiralling down from the skies.
Each grainy picture underlined the tragedy and despair that had engulfed a nation, deserted by its foremost backers, the US and its Western allies, and overrun by the Taliban in a matter of days.
As evening fell, at the very least seven individuals had reportedly died within the chaos on the airport, even because the US, France, Germany and New Zealand stated they wereworking to get their residents out — US officers even urged Taliban leaders in Qatar to not intervene in evacuation operations.
Inside the airport constructing, in the meantime, there was helplessness, hopelessness and desperation laced with panic on every face, and one fervent want — to get out of “Taliban Afghanistan”. “Kuchh nahin karega Taliban. Aap aaram se raho (The Taliban won’t do anything to you, stay calm),” a person in his 20s tried to guarantee this reporter.
A screengrab from a video exhibiting the chaos at Kabul airport on Monday morning.
But then, the chaotic sequence of occasions from early Monday morning advised a distinct story.
At about 4.25 am, a bunch of about 40-50 Taliban entered the Serena Hotel, most of them of their 20s and 30s. Soon, a small group of 5 began inspecting the amenities.
By now, a bunch of individuals, together with this reporter, had left the resort to achieve the airport at about 4.50 am. The automotive stopped on the entrance of the airport, from the place the terminal is a kilometre’s stroll away.

The sheer helplessness at Kabul airport. It’s heartbreaking! #KabulHasFallen pic.twitter.com/brA3WRdPp8
— Ahmer Khan (@ahmermkhan) August 16, 2021
It was nonetheless darkish, however there was a gentle stream of males, girls and youngsters, all strolling with baggage and necessities in the direction of the airport. Outside the terminal was a roundabout with the phrases “I Love Kabul”, and 6 parked armoured autos manned by Taliban fighters to dam entry to the a whole lot that had gathered. Occasionally, the Taliban would hearth within the air to intimidate the group.

This scene performed out on a loop until 6 am earlier than the armoured autos lastly let the crowds move by means of. Inside, the terminal had been ransacked with damaged glass littering the ground, and printers and bundles of A4 sheets looted from places of work. There was chaos and mayhem throughout.
Soon, the sound of gunfire echoed, with some studies claiming indiscriminate firing by the Taliban and rumours flying thick and quick of an trade of fireside between US and Taliban forces. US troops, in the meantime, fired within the air to cease individuals from making an attempt to power their means onto a army plane.
Outside the airport, there was a palpable sense of concern because the site visitors piled up and gun-toting Taliban stopped vehicles to test the occupants.
At the famed Green Zone, which homes the diplomatic enclave, the safety ring was manned by the Taliban, and entry to the embassies that have been nonetheless functioning, together with the Indian Embassy, was tightly managed.
A Taliban guard on the entry gate stated: “Till the Taliban structures come into place, we are not allowed to let people enter or exit the Green Zone.”

At the Indian embassy, officers hunkered down and watched the unfolding scenes on their TV units whereas making an attempt to ascertain channels of communication with the brand new regime. They had already ready plans for evacuation, and have been ready for clearances.
All of them have been bracing for a tense week forward.
For this reporter, the one trade that captured this pressure passed off at a test submit. “Kahan jaana chahte ho?” requested a Taliban fighter. On listening to the response, he smiled menacingly and stated: “India, ya India ke bahane Amreeka?”