Covid, death of 9 Chinese engineers in terror attack led to airport chaos & quick Kabul fall?

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Covid, death of 9 Chinese engineers in terror attack led to airport chaos & quick Kabul fall?

These news came up in different discussions but looking at these developments sequentially appears to shed more light on past couple of weeks dramatic events.


Did covid variant spread and lockdowns at US Embassy in June contribute to the processing delays and Kabul airport chaos in August?


USA Today
June 17, 2021
COVID-19 surge in Afghanistan hits US embassy, prompting lockdown, onsite wards

COVID infection rates have surged in Afghanistan by 2400% over the past month, according to the International Federation of Red Cross.

WASHINGTON – A dangerous surge in COVID-19 cases in Afghanistan has gripped the U.S. embassy in Kabul, forcing an immediate lockdown and the creation of temporary, on-site COVID-19 wards to care for oxygen-dependent patients, according to an internal memo.
"COVID-19 is surging in the Mission. 114 of our colleagues now have COVID and are in isolation; one has died, and several have been medevaced," reads the notice from Shane Pierce, an employee in the embassy's health unit.
His memo says that intensive care units at a U.S. military hospital "are at full capacity," triggering the need to set up temporary on-site units for staff who need oxygen.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs suspected Thursday the Delta variant, first detected in India, could be responsible for the recent spike in Afghan cases.


US Embassy in Kabul shelters staff at airport after evacuation
usatoday
Aug 15, 2021 — U.S. troops were evacuating all diplomatic staff from the embassy to the airport as the Taliban entered the Afghanistan capital, Kabul.

Sluggish Visa Process Strands Many Afghans Who Helped U.S.
nytimes
5 days ago— As many as 6,000 people — including former interpreters and cultural and political advisers — were on standby to be flown out of Kabul's airport ...
The Biden administration is under increasing pressure to defend its delay in evacuating Americans and Afghan allies, forced to send 6,000 troops




Above may not have become a major issue if Kabul had not fallen so quickly to everyone's surprise.


Did the high level China-Taliban meeting on July 28 following killing of 9 Chinese Belt-n-Road engineers in a bus terrorist attack on July 14 lead to dramatic Kabul fall?


Global Times is China's State Paper
Crusade against July 14 terrorists to punish whoever attacks Chinese
globaltimes.cn
Aug 13, 2021 — The Dasu terrorist attack that killed nine Chinese nationals... The NDS is the largest intelligence agency in Afghanistan.
Nine Chinese nationals were killed in a shuttle bus explosion in ... that India's RAW and Afghan NDS have been involved in the Dasu attack, ...
there was a "nexus of Indian RAW and Afghan NDS" in the attack, ...

Chinese officials and Taliban meet, in sign of warming ties
Jul 28, 2021 — China's foreign minister has met a Taliban delegation, signalling warming ties as ... Wang Yi on Wednesday told the nine visiting Taliban ...

That significant meeting took place two weeks after 9 Chinese nationals working on Belt-n-Road project were killed and 28 Chinese wounded in bus blast being blamed on Afghan agency NDS per CNN and SCMP reports. Just weeks after that meeting, Taliban swept through much of Afghanistan taking over city after city at lightening fast speed and entered Kabul just as Afghan Prez Ghani fled the country.
There are also reports that Talibs even gave "pocket money" to some Afghan soldiers before they fled their posts.


"the seniority of the Chinese representatives was unprecedented, as was the very public message that Beijing recognizes the group as a legitimate political force, Yun Sun, the Stimson Center think tank’s China program director, noted this week in an essay on the national security platform, War on the Rocks. After posing for photographs with the group’s co-founder and deputy leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Wang described the Taliban as “a crucial military and political force in Afghanistan that is expected to play an important role in the peace, reconciliation, and reconstruction process of the country."

China denounces use of terrorism for geopolitical gains and calls for a united front to uphold regional security interests
Sarah Zheng
13 Aug, 2021
scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3144956/pakistan-blames-indian-and-afghan-spy-agencies-bus-blast


After Kabul fell, transition was called the most peaceful takeover of Kabul in Afghanistan's history and amnesty was announced. But one entity that apparently did not see the new gentler side of Talibs was the one implicated in killing of Chinese nationals:

Taliban were ‘catching and killing us’: Afghan intel officer who fled to Delhi on last flight from Kabul
The National Directorate of Security (NDS) officer said that the Taliban had sent them notices...
AUG 17, 2021
hindustantimes.com/world-news/afghan-intel-officer-fled-to-delhi-on-last-flight-from-kabul-to-escape-taliban-101629139600183.html


Perhaps China saw them as best suited for "crusade" against "terrorists to punish whoever attacks Chinese" as China's State Paper had demanded:

Taliban militants kill dozens at Afghan intelligence base
BBC News
Jan 22, 2019 — The attack on the National Directorate for Security (NDS) base in central Wardak province came hours before the Taliban held another round ...

ETA:

Another factor that may be contributing to the airport rush and chaos:

US biometric devices are in the hands of the Taliban. They could be used to target Afghans who helped coalition forces.

Days after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, many Afghans who worked for the US are now concerned that their paper documents — attesting to how they helped — could essentially be death sentences if the Taliban were to find them.
But the fear doesn't stop with paper documents. There are also US military biometric devices, which are high-tech tools that contain sensitive data, like iris scans and fingerprints, tools to distinguish friend from possible enemy, that are in the hands of the Taliban. The Intercept first reported how they could be used to identify Afghans who worked with coalition forces.

‘An enormously valuable trove’: America’s race against Afghan data

Having seized Kabul, the Taliban can tap into government databases and communications data to go after U.S. allies who don’t get out.

An employee scans the eyes of a woman for biometric data needed to apply for a passport, at the passport office in Kabul, Afghanistan, on June 30, 2021.

By SAM SABIN and HEIDI VOGT
08/24/2021

U.S. officials racing to evacuate Afghan allies have limited time before another threat comes into play: vast digital data stores that will expose Afghans’ ties to American operations on a massive scale once in Taliban hands.
Telecom companies store reams of records on who Afghan users have called and where they’ve been. Government databases include records of foreign-funded projects and associated personnel records. And stashes of biometric data like fingerprints make people easy to identify.
“There’s almost no doubt that they’ve gotten their hands on an enormously valuable trove of information that they can exploit at their leisure,” said Thomas Warrick, a former Department of Homeland Security counterterrorism official.

American forces and diplomats rushed to destroy their own records on Afghan citizens as they departed, but the rapid takeover of Kabul left large stores of data open for exploitation inside Afghan businesses and government offices. That gives today’s technologically adept Taliban tools to target Afghans who worked with the U.S. or the deposed Afghan government with unprecedented precision, increasing the danger for those who don’t get out on evacuation flights.

politico.com/news/2021/08/24/taliban-afghan-data-target-allies-506638

 

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Vax hesitancy of the 'rural lads' who are supposed to be the new rulers could make the covid issue even more complicated:

Experts fear rapid spread of COVID-19 in Afghanistan given Taliban's hostility to vaccinations

Emily Henderson, Aug 20 2021

Given the Taliban's hostility to vaccinations, WHO and medical experts fear a rapid and uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 in Afghanistan will await the formation of a new government led by the 'Islamic Scholars'.
The WHO recorded 152,411 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 7,047 deaths in Afghanistan between 3 January and 19 August. On 15 August, the Taliban took over the Afghan capital of Kabul, signifying the collapse of the government of President Ashraf Ghani.
"As the situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate rapidly, WHO is extremely concerned over the unfolding safety and humanitarian needs in the country, including risk of disease outbreaks and rise in COVID-19 transmission," said a 17 August WHO update.
https://www.news-medical.net/news/2...given-Talibans-hostility-to-vaccinations.aspx

 

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Above Politico report dated Aug 24 does not jive with today's Politico report:

‘An enormously valuable trove’: America’s race against Afghan data

Having seized Kabul, the Taliban can tap into government databases and communications data to go after U.S. allies who don’t get out.

An employee scans the eyes of a woman for biometric data needed to apply for a passport, at the passport office in Kabul, Afghanistan, on June 30, 2021.

08/24/2021
That gives today’s technologically adept Taliban tools to target Afghans who worked with the U.S. or the deposed Afghan government with unprecedented precision, increasing the danger for those who don’t get out on evacuation flights.

politico.com/news/2021/08/24/taliban-afghan-data-target-allies-506638

U.S. officials provided Taliban with names of Americans, Afghan allies to evacuate

The decision to provide specific names to the Taliban, which has a history of brutally murdering Afghans who collaborated with the U.S. and other coalition forces during the conflict, has angered lawmakers and military officials.

08/26/2021
U.S. officials in Kabul gave the Taliban a list of names of American citizens, green card holders and Afghan allies to grant entry into the militant-controlled outer perimeter of the city’s airport, a choice that's prompted outrage behind the scenes from lawmakers and military officials.
The move, detailed to POLITICO by three U.S. and congressional officials, was designed to expedite the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from Afghanistan as chaos erupted in Afghanistan’s capital city last week after the Taliban seized control of the country. It also came as the Biden administration has been relying on the Taliban for security outside the airport.

politico.com/news/2021/08/26/us-officials-provided-taliban-with-names-of-americans-afghan-allies-to-evacuate-506957


Aug 26, 2021

[SIZE=+7]USA SHARING INTEL WITH TALIBAN
[/SIZE]DRUDGE REPORT[SIZE=+7]
[/SIZE]

 

[jkr]

i hear gravity was also involved...and its just a theory like antifa is an idea

SHUT UP FAT

 

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Don't know about gravity but there could be another factor.
Mike Pence called in to Brian Kilmeade's radio show yesterday and Brian raised another point that could also be among the reasons why Afghan forces may not have shown much interest in fighting. He stated that Doha deal signed between Prez Trump administration and Taliban did not allow them to attack US forces. That is, US deal allowed Talibs to attack Afghan Forces only and in recent weeks Afghan forces had taken heavy losses. That could have also negatively impacted morale of the "300,000 strong" Afghan forces.

 

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Explanations for vanishing act of US taxpayers funded 300,000 Afghan forces keep on coming.

“The Afghanistan Papers”: Docs Show How Bush, Obama, Trump Lied About Brutality & Corruption of War

Aug 19, 2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bixeuaa2r58

 

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US biometric devices are in the hands of the Taliban. They could be used to target Afghans who helped coalition forces.

Taliban were ‘catching and killing us’: Afghan intel officer who fled to Delhi on last flight from Kabul
The National Directorate of Security (NDS) officer said that the Taliban had sent them notices...

Following NYT report also seems to validate above cited claim despite the 'amnesty' narrative being splashed across US MSM:


Hunted by the Taliban, U.S.-Allied Afghan Forces Are in Hiding

The Afghan forces disintegrated ahead of the Taliban’s rapid advance. Now, the militants are searching for thousands of Afghan soldiers and security officials.
.. tens of thousands of other Afghan grunts, commandos and spies who fought to the end, despite the talk in Washington that the Afghan forces simply gave up, have been left behind. They are now on the run, hiding and hunted by the Taliban.
“There’s no way out,” said Farid, an Afghan commando, in a text message to an American soldier who fought with him. Farid, who agreed to be identified by his first name only, said he was hiding in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan, trapped after the regular army units surrendered around him. “I am praying to be saved.”

The N.D.S. commandos have good reason to be fearful. The units killed numerous Taliban fighters and commanders — deaths that the militants appear eager to avenge.
The Taliban began showing up at the houses of senior intelligence officials soon after moving into Kabul on Sunday. At the home of Rahmatullah Nabil, a former N.D.S. chief who left the country in recent days, the Taliban came with electronic equipment to sweep the house, according to a former Afghan official.

nytimes.com/2021/08/19/world/asia/taliban-afghanistan-usa.html


Based on brief sampling of recent past headlines sourced to China's state paper Global Times & other media, post July 14th posturing on geopolitical matters appears to be significantly more aggressive and mark a stark shift in tone compared to prior months. Uncharacteristically strong language against their perceived foes that did not get much attention in US media.

Jul 19, 2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPnqwTxMqv8

China’s fury at Japanese talks with Taiwan as VP Harris issues warning on ‘bully’ Beijing
Aug 25, 2021
express.co.uk

 

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Not surprising considering recent developments:

Afghanistan: Taliban to rely on Chinese funds, spokesperson says

With the help of China, the Taliban will fight for an economic comeback in Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid tells Italian newspaper.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, centre, said the New Silk Road - a Chinese infrastructure initiative - was held in high regard by the Taliban [File: Wakil Kohsar/AFP]

2 Sep 2021
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has told an Italian newspaper that the group will rely primarily on financing from China following the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan and its takeover of the country.
In his interview published by La Repubblica on Thursday, Mujahid said the Taliban will fight for an economic comeback with the help of China.

The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, on August 15 as the country’s Western-backed government melted away, bringing an end to 20 years of war amid fears of an economic collapse and widespread hunger.

Following the chaotic departure of foreign troops from Kabul airport in recent weeks, Western states have severely restricted their aid payments to Afghanistan.
“China is our most important partner and represents a fundamental and extraordinary opportunity for us, because it is ready to invest and rebuild our country,” the Taliban spokesperson was quoted as saying in the interview.

aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/2/afghanistan-taliban-to-rely-on-chinese-money-spokesperson-says