UK tells stranded Afghans to go to border not the airport due to terror attack threat from Isis-K | Daily Mail Online
The UK last night told its Afghan allies who are still trying to get out of Afghanistan to head for the border rather than attempt to get into Kabul airport where US and British forces are winding down their operations.
As evacuation efforts entered their final hours, Defence Secretary
Ben Wallace appeared to signal in a briefing to MPs that there are few places left on British planes.
There are also warnings of an increased terror risk from jihadists ISIS-K, with US officials last night saying there was a 'very real risk' of an attack by the terror group who are the Taliban's rivals. .
The US today issued a new alert, warning those wishing to evacuate not to come to the airport amid security concerns. Officials also urged those currently at three of the airport's gates to leave 'immediately'.
Questioned yesterday about what Afghans who have been offered student places or fellowships in the UK should do, Mr Wallace said: 'If they think they can make it to a third country, that may be a better option.'
Pressed by a Tory backbencher, Mr Wallace added: 'I recommend that they try and make it to the border … because it is higher profile going to the airport – that is where the Taliban will be focusing their efforts at the moment.'
There was no suggestion however, that Afghans who have been told by western officials to travel to the airport for evacuation should alter that plan.
Meanwhile, troubling video today showed thousands of Afghans attempting to flee the country via the Pakistan border.
The footage shows a huge crowd of people at Spin Boldak, a southern village on the border with Pakistan, queuing up at the border gates.
It comes amid reports that desperate Britons and Afghans cleared for evacuation are still trapped in Kabul and are being charged more than £5,000 by local 'private security firms' to help them escape the clutches of the Taliban.
The firms are reportedly charging $7,500 dollars (approximately £5,500) to give those willing to pay a safe passage past Taliban fighters and to Kabul airport.
But most of the money is actually being used to pay off the Taliban anyway, say UK defence sources.