US, Britain, Australia warn citizens to stay away from Kabul airport

The governments of the United States, Great Britain and Australia have warned their citizens against traveling to Kabul's airport amid the threat of a terrorist attack, as the evacuation deadline from Afghanistan approaches.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday updated its advice on Smartraveller, warning people not to head to Hamid Karzai airport and telling those nearby to "move to a safe location and await further advice."

The US Embassy in Kabul in an updated advisory cited "security threats outside the gates" of the airport, advising citizens to "avoid traveling to the airport and to avoid airport gates at this time unless you receive individual instructions from a US government representative to do so."

The advisory went on to say that citizens already at the airport's gates "should leave immediately."

Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) gave similar advice on Wednesday night.

Evacuation window closing

A week and a half after the Taliban takeover of Kabul, the window of opportunity for military evacuations out of Afghanistan is closing fast, with US President Joe Biden sticking to plans for the withdrawal of US troops to finish by 31 August.

If US troops leave Kabul airport, and with the Taliban in charge of the country, the safety of the facility cannot be guaranteed for further evacuations.

The situation has led to chaotic scenes as crowds have been flocking to the airport in the hope of getting a flight out before the deadline.