The US Embassy in Kabul on Sunday denied reports of an imminent evacuation and said it has “no plans to close the embassy”. 

A day after all US and NATO forces left Bagram airbase, 35 miles north of the Afghan capital Kabul, reports emerged that the US may start the imminent evacuation--a claim the embassy later denied on Twitter. 

In a series of tweets, the embassy said, “As directed by President (Joe) Biden, we will continue to have a robust diplomatic presence in Kabul to carry out the range of work we do with the government and people of Afghanistan...We have no plans to close the Embassy.” 

The US embassy added that it is constantly planning for contingencies and how to mitigate risks to its people and programs.

It also added, “We are aware of security challenges to operating in Afghanistan, and we will adjust our presence as necessary to address these challenges.” The Embassy stressed that it can conduct its work in a safe manner to the benefit of Afghanistan and the bilateral relationship with the country.

“Similar to all of our missions overseas, the embassy has well-developed security plans to safely protect our personnel and facilities,” the embassy said.

Significantly, the embassy received over 18,000 applications from Afghanistan for refuge as thousands of Afghans who had worked with foreign forces in the past are at increased risk of retribution at the hands of the Taliban. 

(SAM)