100 US Citizens Still Waiting To Leave Afghanistan: Official

Some American citizens did not want to leave Afghanistan without family members who did not have the required travel documents to enter US; Taliban, ex-govt row ends in no speech at UN

The United States is aware of about 100 American citizens and legal permanent residents (LPRs) who remain in Afghanistan and are ready to leave the country, a senior State Department official said on Monday.

The State Department was working to get those people on flights out of Afghanistan, said the official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.

“Our highest priority in Afghanistan, of course, remains to help those American citizens who wish to leave the country now to do so,” the official said.

About 124,000 people were airlifted out of Kabul after the US-backed government there collapsed last month and the Taliban took control.

Since US forces departed and handed over the airport on Aug. 31, 85 American citizens and 79 LPRs have let Afghanistan on sporadic flights, according to the official.

However, some American citizens did not want to leave Afghanistan without family members who did not have the required travel documents to enter the United States, the official said.