Those who have gathered outside the Kabul airport have been advised to move to a safe location immediately, the advisory said.
The UK, the US and Australia have warned people against travelling to Kabul airport due to a “very high threat of a terrorist attack”. Those who have gathered outside the airport have been advised to move to a safe location immediately.
The latest advisory comes ahead of an August 31 deadline for the evacuation process. More than 80,000 people have been airlifted by western forces from Kabul airport since the Taliban took control of the capital city on August 15. At least eight people have died in the airport chaos.
A report in The Guardian said the UK has voiced growing concerns about the “high risk of a terrorist attack”, particularly a suicide bombing by the group ISIS-K, an Islamic State-affiliated group.
Meanwhile, the US advised Americans in Afghanistan not to travel or gather at the airport “because of security threats outside the gates”. “Those at the Abbey Gate, East Gate, or North Gate now should leave immediately,” said the US State Department.
Australia’s travel advice said the situation in Afghanistan was “highly volatile and dangerous and large crowds bring a risk of violence”.
“There’s an ongoing and very high threat of terrorist attack. Do not travel to Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport. If you’re in the area of the airport, move to a safe location and await further advice,” the advisory said as quoted by The Guardian.
The advisories by a number of nations come at a time when the Taliban have strengthened their control around the Kabul airport, the Pentagon has said.
“The Taliban have bolstered their own security at their checkpoints and have gotten involved in crowd control,” Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday.
