Afghanistan: US directs civilians to join rescue operation

KABUL: AUGUST 23 – The United States has said it will use civilian aircraft to rescue people in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon says 18 planes will be used to evacuate people from safe havens outside Afghanistan to third countries.

Thousands of Afghans have gathered at Kabul airport to flee the country since the Taliban seized power on August 15.

On Sunday, President Biden said the United States had rescued about 28,000 people last week.

“It’s impossible to rescue so many people without seeing the pain and heartbreak you’ve seen,” Biden told a news conference at the White House.

At least 20 people were killed as thousands lined up outside Kabul airport, a Nato official told Reuters.

It is mentioned in the statement that some people lost their lives due to crushing.

Sunday’s scene is reported to be somewhat calmer than on other days.

James Hippie, the UK’s armed forces minister, said the Taliban were managing people at the Hamid Karzai International Airport and that the process of evacuating those expecting to leave the country was speeding up.

The UK has rescued 5,725 people since August 13.

They has more than 1,000 security personnel stationed in Kabul.

Operation of civilian aircraft

On Sunday, the US Department of Defense announced the enactment of the CRAF Civil Reserve Airflight Act.

It will help the United States deploy civilian aircraft in times of crisis.

Civilian aircraft were deployed during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the 1990-1991 Gulf War.

According to the release, four of the 18 aircraft currently in operation are owned by United Airlines.

American Airlines, Atlas Airlines, Delta Airlines and Omni Air have three each and two Hawaiian Airlines.

“Activating the CRF will help military aircraft operate inside and outside Kabul,” the statement said.

Noting that the planes would not land in Kabul, President Biden said centres had been set up in more than two dozen countries to test rescue people.

-BBC