Taliban blocks Kabul airport to most as foreign airlifts wane

Taliban says it is ready to take over Kabul airport and already holds some positions, but Pentagon denies claim.

Taliban forces have sealed off Kabul’s airport to most Afghans hoping for evacuation, as the United States and its allies wound down a chaotic airlift that will end their troops’ two decades in Afghanistan. Western leaders acknowledged that their withdrawal would mean leaving behind some of their citizens and many locals who helped them over the years, and they promised to try to continue working with the Taliban to allow local allies to leave after President Joe Biden’s Tuesday’s deadline to withdraw from the country. Although most of its allies had finished their evacuation flights, the US said it planned to keep its round-the-clock flights going until the deadline.