Seven killed in chaos near Kabul airport, says UK defence ministry

As per the British defence ministry, thousands of people try to flee the country following which seven Afghan civilians have died in the chaos near Kabul airport.

“Our sincere thoughts are with the families of the seven Afghan civilians who have sadly died in crowds in Kabul,” a ministry spokesman said.

The United States (US) and its allies have been struggling to cope with the huge numbers of people trying to get on evacuation flights in the week since the Taliban takeover.

“Conditions on the ground remain extremely challenging but we are doing everything we can to manage the situation as safely and securely as possible,” the spokesman added.

British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told the UK newspaper Mail on Sunday that “no nation will be able to get everyone out” before the US deadline of August 31.

“Perhaps the Americans will be permitted to stay longer and they will have our complete support if they do,” he said.

Australia airlifted 300 people in four flights Saturday night which included Australians, Afghan visa holders, New Zealanders, US and British citizens.

Reports say Afghans have tried to push up against concrete blast walls of the airport to enter the area even as 5,800 US troops remain at the airport.

Reportedly, the US has evacuated 17,000 people, including 2,500 Americans from Kabul in the past week with 3,800 people put on flights in the last 24 hours.