The Taliban are in talks with Turkey and Qatar about the management of the Kabul airport. The idea is to get the airport up and running so foreign nationals and Afghans who want to leave the country can do so.
The US estimates that between 100 and 200 Americans remain in Afghanistan. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Biden both said the majority are dual US-Afghan citizens who have lived in Afghanistan for years.
The US and other countries are calling on the Taliban to give people who want to leave safe passage out of the country, which requires an operational airport in Kabul. The UN Security Council adopted a resolution Monday that said it expects the Taliban to allow a “safe, secure, and orderly departure from Afghanistan of Afghans and all foreign nationals.”
The US is using its control of the global financial system as leverage over the Taliban. For their part, the Taliban appear to be ready to cooperate. A Taliban spokesman said they want diplomatic relations with the US, as well as a trade relationship.
Since the US completed its military withdrawal, the Kabul airport lacks air traffic control. On Monday, the US Federal Aviation Administration barred US civil aircraft from operating over Afghanistan, citing a lack of control and security concerns.
It could just as well be done by safe land passage across any borders, as many now go south into Pakistan, as the Soviets left by the Freedom Bridge to the north, and as many are leaving now into Iran.
The Taliban might allow airport operations, but they do not “need” foreigners on their soil to run their country for them. They have been running much of Afghanistan all along, despite the US.
Still, it’s a good sign, … they’re not shunning the 21st century, no?