The United States and Germany warned their citizens not to travel to Kabul airport due to security concerns, as thousands of Afghans gathered seeking evacuation. Mullah Baradar arrived in Kabul to discuss forming a new Taliban government. Over 5,800 US troops remain at the airport, which remains secure though some gates were temporarily closed. The Taliban hopes to provide a smooth evacuation but security risks cannot be ruled out.

1. The United States, Germany is warning of the evacuation turmoil to
travel to Kabul airport
KABUL (AP) — The United States and Germany warned their citizens in
Afghanistan on Saturday not to travel to Kabul airport, citing security concerns
as thousands of desperate people gathered to flee nearly a week after the
Taliban took control.
Mullah Baradar, a co-founder of the Taliban, has arrived in Kabul for talks with
other leaders. The group is attempting to form a new government after its
forces swept across the country as US-led forces withdrew after two decades,
leaving the Western-backed government and military in shambles
Over the last week, crowds have grown at the airport in the heat and dust of
the day, impeding operations as the United States and other nations attempt
to evacuate thousands of their diplomats and civilians, as well as a large
number of Afghans. In the crush, mothers, fathers, and children have pressed
up against concrete blast walls in an attempt to catch a flight out.
The Taliban has urged those who do not have travel documents to return home.
At least 12 people have been killed in and around the single-runway airfield
since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan on Sunday, according to NATO
and Taliban officials.
"Because of potential security threats outside the Kabul airport gates, we are
advising US citizens to avoid traveling to the airport and avoiding airport gates
at this time unless you receive individual instructions from a US government
representative," a US Embassy advisory said.
The German Embassy also advised its citizens not to travel to the airport,
stating in an email that Taliban forces were conducting increasingly strict
controls in the area.
The advisories emphasized how volatile the security situation remains.
Because of threats from militant groups such as al Qaeda and the Islamic
State, the US military is looking into alternative routes for people to get to the
airport, according to a US official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

2. Army Major General William Taylor of the US Joint Staff told a Pentagon
briefing that 5,800 US troops remain at the airport and that it "remains secure."
Taylor stated that some airport gates were temporarily closed and reopened
over the last day to allow for a safe influx of evacuees.
According to a Taliban official speaking to Reuters, security risks cannot be
ruled out, but the group is "hoping to improve the situation and provide a
smooth exit" for those attempting to flee over the weekend. The Taliban's
takeover has sparked fears of retaliation and a return to the Taliban's harsh
interpretation of Islamic law, which they used when they were in power two
decades ago.
Taylor stated that the US has evacuated 17,000 people from Kabul in the last
week, including 2,500 Americans. Taylor stated that 3,800 people were
evacuated on US military and chartered flights in the previous day.
Kirby declined to elaborate on the specific "threat dynamics" in Kabul, but
described the security situation as "fluid and dynamic."
"We're up against both time and space," Kirby explained.
'Life is difficult.'
In Qatar, which is hosting thousands of evacuees until they can enter a third
country, Afghans who fled described their despair at leaving behind loved ones
while facing their own uncertain future in interviews with Reuters.
A law student described the Taliban looting as they took control of Kabul, with
armed militants intimidating people on their way to the airport. He left his wife
behind, whom he married via video call before fleeing.
"Our minds are back home because our families are still there," he said,
speaking on the condition of anonymity like the other evacuees due to
concerns for relatives who had been left behind.
"It's going to be a very different and challenging life ahead of us," another man,
a lawyer, who arrived in Doha with his wife, three children, parents, and two
sisters, said.
Qatar's air force evacuated Afghan nationals, students, foreign diplomats, and
journalists from Afghanistan, according to the Gulf country's government
media office on Twitter, without providing further details.

3. Because of the airport chaos, Switzerland postponed a charter flight from
Kabul.
Management of crises
According to a Taliban official who requested anonymity, Baradar will meet
with militant commanders, former government leaders and policymakers,
religious scholars, and others. According to the official, the group intends to
prepare a new model for governing Afghanistan in the coming weeks, with
separate teams addressing internal security and financial issues.
"Former government experts will be brought in for crisis management," the
official said.
According to the official, the new government structure will not be a
democracy by Western standards, but it will "protect everyone's rights."
The Taliban, whose overall leader, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, has so far
remained silent publicly, must also unite disparate groups within the
movement whose interests may not always coincide now that victory has been
achieved.
The Taliban adhere to an ultra-hardline interpretation of Sunni Islam. Since
regaining power, they have attempted to present a more moderate face,
claiming that they want peace and will respect women's rights within the
framework of Islamic law.
When the Taliban ruled from 1996 to 2001, they forbade women from working
or going out without an all-encompassing burqa, and they forbade girls from
attending school.
Individual Afghans and international aid and advocacy organizations have
reported harsh retaliation for protests, as well as round-ups of those who
previously held government positions, criticized the Taliban, or worked with
US-led forces.
"We have heard of some cases of atrocities and crimes against civilians," said
a Taliban official.
"If (Taliban members) are causing law and order problems, they will be
investigated," he said.