60 nations including US, UK & Australia call on Taliban to allow safe passage for Afghans

The US Departments of State and Defense have announced in a joint statement that US forces will take over air traffic control at Kabul airport, in addition to expanding security there.

The statement said US forces will be transferring out thousands of American citizens who have been living in Afghanistan, as well as locally employed staff of the U.S. mission in Kabul and their families along with other particularly vulnerable Afghan nationals.

Washington will accelerate the evacuation of thousands of Afghans eligible for U.S. Special Immigrant Visas, nearly 2,000 of whom have already arrived in the United States over the past two weeks. For all categories, Afghans who have cleared security screening will continue to be transferred directly to the United States.

More than 60 countries including the US, UK, and Australia have issued a joint statement saying Afghans and international citizens who wished to leave Afghanistan must be able to do so - urging the Taliban to let them go.

The joint statement added that those in positions of power and authority across Afghanistan bear responsibility and accountability for the protection of human life and property, and for the immediate restoration of security and civil order.

The statement said, that Afghans and international citizens who wish to depart must be allowed to do so, roads, airports and border crossing must remain open, and calm must be maintained. The Afghan people deserve to live in safety, security and dignity. 

The United Nations has meanwhile said, it is deeply concerned about the situation in Afghanistan & urges the Taliban to exercise utmost restraint to protect lives & ensure humanitarian needs can be met.

Also watch: Taliban takeover: Chaos at Kabul airport as hundreds scramble to leave, all commercial flights banned

Secretary-General António Guterres said the UN is determined to contribute to the peaceful settlement and ensuring the human rights of all Afghans.