Afghan conflict: 12 nations have agreed to host Afghan evacuees, says US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

 While the transit countries include Bahrain, Britain, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Qatar, Tajikistan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that 13 countries have thus far agreed to at least temporarily host at-risk Afghans refugees from Afghanistan and a dozen more have agreed to serve as transit points for evacuees, including Americans and others.

In a Friday statement, Blinken said that potential Afghan refugees have not only been already cleared for resettlement in the United States will be sheltered at facilities in Albania, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Mexico, Poland, Qatar, Rwanda, Ukraine and Uganda.

While the transit countries include Bahrain, Britain, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Qatar, Tajikistan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.

Blinken said, we are encouraged by other countries that are also considering providing support. We have no higher priority than the safety and security of US citizens overseas and to fulfil our commitments to citizens of partner nations and at-risk Afghans.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden attempted to reassure the United States about the dramatic departure from Afghanistan, saying that no Americans would be abandoned during one of the "most challenging" airlifts in history.

According to the White House, around 13,000 individuals have departed aboard US military planes in less than a week, with the number expected to rise. Due to congestion at a base in Qatar, where jets were en route, an hour-long halt was imposed on Friday.

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday indicated that Britain would work with the Taliban if necessary. He defended his Foreign Minister, who has been criticised for how he handled the situation.

US President Joe Biden had given the Pentagon until August 31 to complete the withdrawal of the 2,500 to 3,000 troops that were in Afghanistan when he announced in April that he was ending US involvement in the war. Soon after the Taliban’s blitz took over Afghanistan in no time as people confined to homes struggled to face the militant group.

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