Rep. Michael McCaul publicly confirmed that Americans are being held hostage in Afghanistan during his appearance on “Fox News Sunday” with Chris Wallace.
Transcript
Chris Wallace: Since we left the country on Friday, how many Americans have gotten out of Afghanistan, since we pulled out? How many Afghan allies have gotten out since the Taliban was in complete control of the country?
Rep. Michael McCaul: I understand, Zero. In fact we have 6 airplanes at Hamid Karzai International Airport, 6 airplanes with American citizens on them as I speak, also with these interpreters, and the Taliban is holding them hostage for demands right now. They, we, the state has cleared these flight and the Taliban will not let them leave the airport. So, I’m sorry, the answer to your question is zero. And that’s my concern is they’re going to demand more and more, whether it be cash or legitimacy as the government of Afghanistan.
Chris Wallace: Let me pick up on this because I didn’t know this. You’re saying that there are Americans on airplanes ready to fly out of Afghanistan right now and they’re not being allowed out because Taliban is making demands. What demands are the Taliban making?
Rep. Michael McCaul: Well, they are not, they are not clearing the airplanes to depart. They’ve sat at the airport for the last couple days, these planes, and they’re not allowed to leave. We know the reason why is because the Taliban want something in exchange. This is really, Chris, turning into a hostage situation where they’re not get allow American citizens to leave until they get full recognition from the United States of America. My concern is that Zal Khalilzad, our Special Envoy, who’s met with the Taliban, they’re in talks right now, and I think, I worry his recommendation to the administration will be to recognize the Taliban, as the official government of the United States, a Taliban organization, that it’s a terrorist organization.
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