In just two days left for the US troops to retreat from Afghanistan, another suicide bomb threat is looming over the military's airlift operation from the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. US president Joe Biden has raised alarm about another terror attack which is “highly likely” this weekend. Last Thursday, two suicide bomb blasts at the Kabul airport had killed over 100 civilians, along with 13 US servicemen, slowing the evacuation process ahead of the deadline.
The IS-K group has taken responsibility for the blasts.
The US state department has asked all US nationals to avoid the airport areas and airport gates at this time because of a "specific, credible threat".
The US has lifted over 112,000 Afghan citizens via the massive US-led airlift that was called after the Taliban emerged into power in Afghanistan. The evacuation is growing faint despite the west saying that thousands could be left behind.
The remaining contingent of the US military that now is fewer than 4000, have already started their withdrawal ahead of the deadline slated for August 31.
Biden in a statement on Saturday said that the situation on the ground continues to be extremely dangerous and the threat of another terrorist attack on the Kabul airport remains high.
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“Our commanders informed me that an attack is highly likely in the next 24-36 hours.”
"I directed them to take every possible measure to prioritize force protection, and ensured that they have all the authorities, resources and plans to protect our men and women on the ground. They assured me that they did and that they could take these measures while completing the mission and safely retrograding our personnel," stated Biden.
The US embassy in Kabul in an issue released have alerted of ‘credible threats’ pointing at specific areas of the airport, including the airport gates.
The Pentagon briefed Biden on a US drone mission in eastern Afghanistan that had killed ISKP members early Saturday.
"This strike was not the last. We will continue to hunt down any person involved in that heinous attack and make them pay. Whenever anyone seeks to harm the United States or attack our troops, we will respond. That will never be in doubt," he said.
Meanwhile, more Taliban fighters have been deployed around the Kabul airport from preventing the crowd from gathering there, after the deadly suicide bomb attacks.
Several new checkpoints were arranged on roads that led to the airport, some guarded by uniformed Taliban militants with Humvees and night-vision goggles that they seized from Afghan security forces.
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The Islamic State Khorasan has become highly dangerous and responsive to some of the deadliest attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The IS-K are even more extremist than the Talibans; have mass killed civilians at mosques, schools, public places and even shot pregnant women and nurses at hospitals.
Taliban has refused to have any links with the Islamic State, and are said to be enemies, with each group claiming to be the true flag bearer of Jihad.