U.S. says Taliban blocking flights out of Kabul

After leaving Americans behind, the Biden administration must depend on the Taliban’s cooperation for the safe return of U.S. citizens and allies from Afghanistan. U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken confirmed on Wednesday that the Taliban was not allowing charter flights to depart. It claims some passengers don’t have the proper documents.

What can the United States do about it? At a joint news conference with the German foreign minister on Wednesday, Blinken said that if the Taliban wants legitimacy or international support, it will have to earn it. And in the eyes of the West, it’s not off to a good start. “While there are limits to what we can do without a presence on the ground, without an airport, without normal security procedures in place, we are working to do everything in our power,” Blinken said.

Dig deeper: Read WORLD’s ongoing coverage of the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan.