Seven killed amid chaos near Kabul airport

PBC News:  At least seven Afghans have been killed near Kabul’s international airport amid the chaos of those attempting to flee the Taliban takeover of the country, the British military has said, reports Al Jazeera.

But the UK defence ministry did not elaborate when they were killed and if the latest death toll is on top of the four people reportedly crushed to death on Saturday.

The airport is filled with thousands trying to flee the Taliban, who swept into Kabul a week ago. Shocking images of people clinging onto jets raised alarm over the slow evacuation process led by counties including the US and Britain.

There have been stampedes and crushing injuries in the crowds over the past few days.

The US embassy issued a new security warning, telling citizens not to travel to Kabul airport unless instructed by a US government representative. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden warned he could not predict the outcome of one of the “most difficult airlifts in history”.

Afghans need to accept Taliban rule, says Hashmat Ghani
Hashmat Ghani, brother of Afghanistan’s deposed President Ashraf Ghani, says he has accepted the Taliban’s takeover of the country but has called for the formation of an inclusive government.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from his west Kabul home on Saturday, Ghani said acknowledging the new order in Kabul was a necessity “for the people of Afghanistan” at a time when foreign forces are only days away from their final withdrawal.

Ghani, a businessman and grand chieftain of Afghanistan’s nomadic Kochi population, has been meeting Taliban leaders for the past several days. He said he agreed to recognise the transition of power as a signal to influential political and cultural figures, as well as businesspeople.