New York Congressman Paul Tonko held a briefing Sunday at his Albany office where he talked about the situation in Afghanistan.
Tonko, a Democrat from the 20th District, said last week’s bombing at the Kabul airport that killed roughly 170 people, including 13 American service members, was "a tragedy 20 years in the making."
"I stand by the President's demand that we get, our efforts to get all Americans out of Afghanistan that choose to flee, and our Afghan allies who helped the troops stand by that effort to work with the strategic efforts of the military, and the Department of State to do everything we need to do. And we will be there in response, to respond to resources that are essential to make that happen. And I stand by the statement of the president who is saying we're not going to hesitate to respond to any of the attacks that have been made, and that we will make certain that we hold those accountable in every to every measure."
The terrorist group ISIS-K claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing and the U.S. has responded with aerial attacks against the group.
Courtesy video provided to WAMC recorded in the vicinity of Abbey gate, where the August 26 attack took place.
Kamran Parwana, a Ballston Spa-based consultant, has worked in Afghanistan for the past 15 years. He spoke with WAMC Sunday evening. He says during the two weeks before the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, his firm managed to get 50 people from 11 families on planes, most of them through the French government. But the situation is changing...
"Actually getting people into the airport is almost impossible. For a variety of reasons, because of the big crowds around the airport, because of the systems, who actually get people who have valid papers in through gate access makes it very hard to figure out exactly how to get people who have valid flights, valid papers, into the airport. As of two days ago, it's becoming pretty much impossible for us, through our means, at least, to get people into the airport and out on flights. It seems like U.S. flights are still continuing for the next few days. But through our means, which have mainly been through other countries embassies, it's become pretty much impossible. So we are now in a bit of a holding position, trying to figure out what the next steps are, what the reopening of the airport under the Taliban will look like in the long run, which seems less than certain, and what potential overland routes will eventually be."
The U.S. plans to complete its withdrawal by Tuesday. Tonko says his heart goes out to all the families who have suffered. He says his office has fielded "hundreds of calls" about helping people leave Afghanistan.
"A lot of it is centered on paperwork. Paperwork that could have been done ages ago. But there was a backlog, there was, I think, a less than robust effort to enable people to fill out paperwork and to be realized as refugees. That track record was dismal, as a huge backlog from the past. And that made this situation even more difficult because a lot of it boiled down to paperwork being done. So we're working with those citizens, non-US citizens, that are looking for Special Immigrant Visa program entry. We're working with them, again, huge delay there, and working with our US citizens to complete repatriation assistance request forms. So a lot of it is paperwork, and we're doing what we can to expedite."
Meantime, Parwana says the situation now is one of desperation and danger.
"So over the past few days, we've been hearing from our people on the ground, that there are obviously door-to-door searches that everyone has been hearing about. We've heard rumors of executions in various places that are still unconfirmed but seeming very likely, and more violence on the streets, including the younger brother of one of our employees who was beaten to death for carrying an Afghan flag earlier today yesterday, Kabul, earlier today our time. So there is still a lot of violence happening, even though the Taliban are trying to put a good face on their new rule. What is actually happening in the streets is much more violent, much more oppressive than what is being recorded and what they are trying to put into the media."
Tonko says he expects to attend a briefing upon his return to Washington this week. He grieves for the military families who lost one loved ones in Thursday's bombing.
"You know, the consequences of war are very deep and very painful and lifelong. And so my condolences to those families, my prayers, my thoughts, go with them. And, you know, their loved ones service, their bravery, that their undeniable patriotism is inspirational and really will pay tribute to their memory."
