US, UK warn residents to immediately leave Serena Hotel at Kabul… At least 46 people were killed and dozens injured in a recent attack on a Shia mosque
In a fresh travel advisory, the United States and the United Kingdom have advised travellers from staying in hotels like the famed Serena Hotel—where a lot of the high-profile and diplomatic guests stay—in light of security threats. “US citizens who are at or near the Serena Hotel should leave immediately,” the US State Department said, citing “security threats”, reported the news agency. “In light of the increased risks you are advised not to stay in hotels, particularly in Kabul [such as the Serena Hotel],” Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office stated.
The security situation in Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, is growing worse. At least 46 people were killed and dozens of others injured in a recent attack on a Shia mosque, which was the latest in a series of Islamic State bombings targeting Afghanistan’s new Taliban rulers, religious institutions and members of the country’s minority Shiite Muslims. The Islamic State terror group has claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing.
The Islamic State’s Afghanistan affiliate, dubbed Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) which has stepped up attacks in several Afghan cities since the Taliban seized power in Kabul on August 15, had claimed the deadly suicide attack at Kabul airport on August 26 that killed nearly 170 Afghans and 13 US military personnel.
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According to a report, The United States has requested its residents to keep away from travelling to the Serena Hotel in Kabul and its neighborhood due to safety threats. According to a report with the Agence France-Presse, the United Kingdom has additionally requested residents to keep away from motels in Afghanistan. The warning comes days after dozens had been killed in a mosque assault in Afghanistan, which was later claimed by the ISIS.
“U.S. citizens who are at or near the Serena Hotel should leave immediately,” the US State Department mentioned, citing “security threats” within the space.
“In light of the increased risks you are advised not to stay in hotels, particularly in Kabul (such as the Serena Hotel),” Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office mentioned.
Meanwhile, the Taliban on Sunday mentioned the US has agreed to supply humanitarian help to Afghanistan, which is on the point of an financial catastrophe. The US, nevertheless, has refused to offer political recognition to the nation’s new Taliban rulers, they mentioned.
The assertion got here on the finish of the primary direct talks between the previous foes for the reason that chaotic withdrawal of US troops on the finish of August.
The US assertion was much less definitive, saying solely that the 2 sides “discussed the United States’ provision of robust humanitarian assistance, directly to the Afghan people.”
The Taliban mentioned the talks held in Doha, Qatar, “went well,” with Washington releasing up humanitarian help to Afghanistan after agreeing to not hyperlink such help to formal recognition of the Taliban.
