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Old 24th Aug 2021, 10:06
  #470 (permalink)  
ORAC
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Two interesting snippets from today’s papers.

First from The Times. This suggests elements of the Afghan army survive - if only inside the airport. Even if this is on the agreement they are evacuated, it reveals a continuing animus between the Taliban and army members - remember thousands have been killed by the Taliban almost monthly. It suggests that, for all that some went across t9 the Taliban, that there are tens of thousands of army members, still with their weapons, who will make life uncomfortable for the new regime.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/s...ruce-pdprvdzlf

Shots at Kabul airport shatter deadly foes’ uneasy truce

Deadly foes stood talking at the gateway between the fear-filled chaos of the airport perimeter wall and the fuel-reeking runway.

Separated by no more than a few feet of earth and a waist-high strip of concertina wire, an American officer, his Taliban counterpart and an Afghan commando spoke with unsmiling deliberation in the dark of the night as they worked out details of how to allow a group of Afghan civilians though for evacuation…..

From the grass behind the American’s feet sat a few huddled groups of Afghan families lucky enough to get this far. A scattered band of Afghan commandoes, heavily armed, hatchet-faced and much the most ferocious presence there, looked on. They were due evacuation too, but in the meantime held the war, stepping across the wire to face off with the Taliban whenever they encroached too close…..

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The second is from the Grauniad and considers the current famine and drought in the country and the suggestion from a WHO representative that empty inbound aircraft be routed via Dubai to bring aid.

Now that’s laughable in the current circumstances - who’d unload them (or have the time) and they wouldn’t be able to get trucks and drivers through the security perimeter - or stop them getting in the aircraft. But it does occur that it offers a possible negotiating position for after the 31st.

There would be no incentive to fly an aircraft in after the 31st unless there were load of evacuees to take out. If arrangements could be made for FO staff to be hosted by an embassy still open to continue giving out visas, then there would be an incentive for the new government to allow those with them to reach the airport and depart - each load of aid flown in replaced by 200-400 evacuees to be flown out.

Swopping food for lives may seem ruthless, but it could save lives in both directions.


https://www.theguardian.com/global-d...ember-un-warns

Afghanistan could start to run out of food by September, UN warns
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