The U.S. Embassy warned Americans not to go to the Kabul airport on Saturday "because of potential security threats."
The big picture: The guidance comes a day after President Biden reiterated his commitment to considering "every opportunity and every means" to get Americans and Afghan allies through Taliban checkpoints and into the airport
- "Because of potential security threats outside the gates at the Kabul airport, we are advising U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to the airport and to avoid airport gates at this time unless you receive individual instructions from a U.S. government representative to do so, " according to the embassy guidance.
- On Friday, Biden said his administration has been in "constant contact" with the Taliban to "ensure that civilians have safe passage to the airport."
- “We’ve made it clear to the Taliban that any attack, any attack on our forces or disruption of our operations at the airport will be met with swift and forceful response."
Why it matters: Biden on Friday also reiterated that "this evacuation mission is dangerous," adding: "It involves risks to our armed forces, and it's being conducted under difficult circumstances."
- But critics and some journalists viewed the commander-in-chief's comments as painting an inaccurate picture of continued chaos on the ground.
What else is happening: The Taliban's political leader, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, arrived in Kabul on Saturday to meet with senior leaders of the militant group about forming their new government.
- It's still unclear who will lead what the militants call the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan as president, but Baradar is widely viewed as the public face of the movement.
Go deeper: The cases for and against Biden's key decisions on Afghanistan