US asks citizens to leave Afghanistan

Fresh warning comes after another Taliban assault in Kabul

ISLAMABAD: Hours after the Taliban mounted another attack in the Afghan capital, the United States on Tuesday issued a fresh warning for its citizens considering travel to the war-shattered country, while those already in the country were told to consider leaving.

“US citizens currently visiting or residing in Afghanistan may wish to consider departing.”

The renewed warning came hours after another brazen Taliban attack in Kabul where three suspected bombers stormed a former lawmaker’s guesthouse in the Daurl Aman area, near the Russian embassy.

“The security situation in Afghanistan is extremely unstable, and the threat to all US citizens in Afghanistan remains critical,” read an ‘emergency message’ posted on the US Embassy’s website.

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“The embassy strongly urges US citizens who decide to remain in Afghanistan to review [their] personal security plans, take appropriate steps to enhance personal safety, remain aware of surroundings, monitor local media for updates, and maintain a high level of vigilance,” the warning added.

Kabul police chief Brig. Gen. Abdur Rahman Rahimi told the media that seven security forces were wounded in clashes with Taliban militants. The attack launched late Monday, ended on Tuesday morning, Rahimi added. The Taliban claimed that their fighters and a car bomb targeted an office of intelligence officials.

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The advisory comes three days after the US asked its citizens in Badakhshan to depart the area immediately after reports emerged that Taliban fighters had entered the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7^th, 2015.