About 1,000 people are reportedly stuck in or around the airport in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, with disputed claims they are being held 'hostage' by the Taliban.
About 1,000 people, including dozens of Americans and Afghans holding visas for the United States or other countries, are reportedly stuck in Afghanistan waiting for the Taliban to give permission for their flights to leave.
The senior Republican on the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, Mike McCaul, told Fox News six planes were stuck at Mazar-i-Sharif airport with Americans and Afghan interpreters on board. He said the Taliban were holding passengers "hostage for demands," but multiple reports disputed his statement.WatchThousands of people were unable to board flights from Kabul after the Taliban took the capital.He gave no specifics, but said he was worried "they're going to demand more and more, whether it be cash or legitimacy as the government of Afghanistan".
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