Afghanistan: 1500 Americans still stranded in Kabul

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has revealed the extent of the potential hostage crisis for the first time.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Picture: AFP

Up to 1500 Americans could be left in Afghanistan, the US government has revealed, as it scrambles to airlift remaining US citizens and former Afghan staff from Kabul airport, which is facing imminent risk of a terrorist attack.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, revealing the extent of the potential hostage crisis for the first time on Wednesday in Washington, said 6000 Americans had wanted to leave Afghanistan on August 14th, 4500 had been evacuated, and the US had sent a further 500 with details on how to leave, which wasn’t certain.

“For the remaining roughly 1000 contacts, who may be Americans seeking to leave Afghanistan, we’re reaching out multiple times a day, by phone, email and text,” Mr Blinken said.

Analysts fear remaining Americans, which could include Christian missionaries, could be used as hostages in future negotiations between the US and the new Taliban regime, potentially dwarfing the crisis with Iran in 1979 where 52 Americans were held hostage.

“Some may claim to be Americans but turn out not be; and some may choose to stay so the number of Americans actively seeking to leave is likely significantly lower,” Mr Blinken said, in remarks that suggested many Afghans, formerly employed by the US, wouldn’t be evacuated in time.

The secretary’s remarks came a day after President Joe Biden told other G7 leaders the US intended to end its evacuation by 31st August in keeping with his original plan and Taliban demands, despite concerns, including among other world leaders, the task would take longer.

Meanwhile the Central Intelligence Agency and the US military were evacuating Americans using helicopters and ground troops as the window began to close, including making clandestine operations in and outside of Kabul in recent days, according to US officials.

US and allied planes flew an extra 19,200 out of Kabul in the past 24 hours, Mr Blinken said, revealing 45 per cent of those evacuated since August 14th, around 82,300, were women and children.

“Let me be clear there is no deadline on our work to help Americans who remain to leave … and Afghans who stood by us,” Mr Blinken said, reminding reporters 114 nations had told the Taliban to keep corridors open between Kabul airport and the rest of the country for anyone who wanted to leave.

The Pentagon, separately, said more than 10,000 people were still inside the international airport in Kabul awaiting flights out of the country on Wednesday.

“It’s hard to overstate the complexity and danger of this effort, in hostile environment, and a very real possibility of an Isis-K attack,” Mr Blinken said, referring to the rival and even more extreme terrorist organisation than al-Qaeda.

Since August 14th, the first day of the evacuation, the US has sent more than 20,000 emails, and made 45,000 phone calls, Mr Blinken said.

“I will use every diplomatic economic and political assistance tool at my disposable, working closely with allies and partners, who feel the same way, to uphold the basic rights of women,” he added.

The US is preparing contingency plans in case it has to leave troops, which currently number around 6000, in Afghanistan beyond the 31st August cut-off.

Mr Blinken said the numbers of remaining Americans were “incredibly fluid” and “likely to be out of date by time I leave this briefing”.

Americans do not have to register with the US government when they move abroad, complicating the task of working out how many remain in Afghanistan, he explained.

The figures on remaining Americans did not include legal permanent American residents, or green card holders.