US troops reach Kabul to help evacuate diplomats

KABUL (Pajhwok): The first group of American troops has reached Kabul to help evacuate US embassy staff and other civilians, an official said on Saturday.

Reuters quoted an unnamed US official as confirming: “They have arrived, their arrival will continue till tomorrow.”

On Friday, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters three battalions — two of Marines and one of infantry would fly into Kabul by Sunday evening.

A combat team of the infantry brigade would also move out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Kuwait to act as a quick reaction force for security in Kabul if needed, he indicated.

In Kabul, the US embassy asked staff to burn papers and electronic devices to “reduce the amount of sensitive material on the property,” Reuters reported, citing an advisory.

The Pentagon press secretary said: “We are certainly concerned by the speed with which the Taliban have been moving…”

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